This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
You can find Weleda cruelty-free products at weleda.com, Ulta, Target, Dermstore, Walmart, iHerb, and Amazon.
Weleda is Cruelty-Free
Weleda has confirmed they do not test their products or ingredients on animals or ask others to test on their behalf. Their suppliers also do not test on animals, nor do they allow their products to be tested on animals when required by law.
By our standards, we would consider Weleda to be Cruelty-Free.
Below is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Weleda’s website about its animal testing policy:
What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?
As of May 1, 2021, some imported ordinary cosmetics can be exempt from animal testing under certain conditions. However, for the most part, animal testing is still legally required for most imported cosmetics in 2022.
Weleda states they only sell their toothpaste and soap bars in China. But toothpaste and soap bars are not defined as “cosmetics” in China and therefore Weleda is not required to test on animals.
Weleda explains its position on selling its toothpaste and soaps in China on their UK website, stating:
I also asked them about post-market animal testing which is where Chinese officials will pull a beauty product off store shelves and test it on animals. This is often done without the company’s knowledge or consent. Weleda kindly responding by saying,
“First of all, there is no reason to believe that our soaps and dental care products would be subject to after-market testing in shops, since they are in no way classified as products (such as cosmetics) for which animal testing is seen as necessary by the Chinese authorities. We know that these products are not subject to testing based on our local contacts, and this has also been confirmed to us by a representative of Humane Society International working in China, as well as the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, which collaborates with PETA. We follow regulatory developments in China closely, and we react immediately to any developments. If the current situation should change, any affected products would immediately be withdrawn from the Mainland Chinese market.Our presence in China has always been small, but we do think that it is worth being there if it means that we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural cosmetics, and meet the needs of Chinese consumers for this type of product. We would not be selling any product in China if we had reason to believe that animals would be hurt because of this.”
Cruelty-Free Policies
Note that there is no legal definition for the label ‘Cruelty-Free.’ It can mean different things to different people. But Cruelty-Free is generally used to imply no animal testing. More specifically, the ingredients, formulation, or finished product are not tested on animals at any stage of product development.
At ethical elephant, we always assess a company’s cruelty-free policy using our Cruelty-Free Checklist. This ensures no animal testing was performed by the brand itself, its suppliers, and by any third parties.
Also, note that Cruelty-Free and Vegan don’t always mean the same thing.
Weleda is Not 100% Vegan
‘Vegan’ in cosmetics can refer to an entire brand that is 100% Vegan or a specific product is vegan.
In the case of Weleda, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.
How to know which of Weleda products are vegan?
All of Weleda’s vegan products are clearly marked on their website.
The following is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Weleda’s website about its vegan claims:
Vegan Policies
Similar to ‘Cruelty-Free,’ there is no standard or legal definition for the label ‘Vegan.’ But it’s usually used in the context to describe something that doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products.
Some common animal products used in cosmetics include carmine, lanolin, snail mucus, beeswax, honey, pearl or silk-derived ingredients, animal-based glycerin, keratin, and squalene.
There are plant-based and synthetic alternatives to animal-derived ingredients. But it’s sometimes difficult to know with certainty whether a product is vegan just by reading the ingredient list.
So it’s best to ask the company and manufacturers to ensure the ingredients they’ve chosen to use were from non-animal sources.
Where are Weleda’s products made?
I asked Weleda where their products are manufactured and they told me:
“Weleda’s three main sites are close together, with our headquarters in Arlesheim, Switzerland just a few kilometres from the Weleda site in Huningue, France. The production operation in Schwäbisch Gmünd near Stuttgart is just 250 kilometres north-east in Germany.”
I hope this article helped you to understand Weleda’s cruelty-free and vegan status and by choosing cruelty-free together, we can help end animal testing for cosmetics once and for all!
16 thoughts on “Weleda”
China stopped the requirement of animal testing on toothpaste & soap in June 2014, this is fact and can be found on several ethical websites and cosmetic sites that do not test on animals. I don’t think any company should be held accountable for Chinese authorities pulling products off the shelf to test on animals. If this is going to be a Chinese policy then fair enough but if this argument is to be used then any random (sick) individual could do this themselves in any country. I feel it is important to at least try to support the companies that are trying to bring around change in China. L’Occitane ship to China, their products are not tested by them but by independent Chinese laboratories. This effectively allows them to wash their hands of the problem but when you consider they were instrumental in bringing about the change in testing for toothpaste/soap then I think a little understanding goes a long way. China is going to be a tough nut to crack and it’s not going to happen over night. However I do believe that western companies changing things within China is the only way things will improve. Having said that I will only buy leaping bunny products but I do think these companies should be applauded for there determination to change the situation and not berated for being there in the first place. You already show your disapproval by not buying their products.
Hi, they are selling more than just soaps and dental care products. Can someone explain?
Go to http://www.weleda.com/ and choose China, you will be directed to https://weleda.tmall.hk/
and you will see they are selling face cream too. ( https://detail.tmall.hk/hk/item.htm?spm=a1z10.1-b-s.w5003-14449424119.41.EPjICz&id=43866312532&scene=taobao_shop&skuId=96186780046)
Hi, I am several years late but if they sell their products only online in China, then it won`t be tested unless suddenly a lot of consumers complain about it etc.
I hastily bought a Weleda product (in a small box so I couldn’t see the print clearly), thinking that their products were both vegan and cruelty free. Later, when I looked more closely, I saw that it had beeswax. I looked at their website, and they don’t mention animal testing or welfare at all. I certainly won’t buy their products again, and will make sure I see one of the cruelty-free logos before I choose an item again. Thanks for the informative article btw.
Their website speaks very specifically to animal testing as well as testing in China. See here: https://www.weleda.co.uk/our-story/our-standards/animal-testing.
Well they might not test the products on animals but they use wool to produce them in first place. At least some of the creams are. How could this be vegan? How can you say its cruelty-free when it still requires livestock farming? Just because the outcome isnt tested against animals?.. Sorry but this makes me tilt, its just stupid
Why are some of you people condemning a company that is actively trying to change Chinese policy on animal testing? You should be encouraging more companies to make a stand against animal testing within China, also what about the people in China that want to buy cruelty free products, but can’t they also need all the support they can get from you and companies. I wouldn’t class myself as vegan even though I do not buy meat or diary products and do my utmost to be animal cruelty free. But how many of you buy soya milk and soya products that have been blasted with Hexan which is then flushed in to the rivers and lakes, then on in to the sea. Which then harms plant life and animal life. Or where forests are cut down to make room for the crop to grow. Or buy a new car almost every 2 years whether that’s fossil fuel or electric. Where do you think the minerals and other raw materials for that vehicle come from?? The planet and what happens when that is done, plants and animal are hurt or killed just to make one shiny new vehicle, or a so called smart phone that people want the latest one. Also how many of you buy cruelty free products in nice shiny plastic, with a shiny plastic wrapping, which then comes in a nice shiny bag? And where does that plastic come from and end up? Most of the time in the food chain harming and killing animals. Just because a product isn’t first of all used on animals, the end of the line a lot of so called animal cruelty free products harm and kill animals. Do you also condemn bee keepers that are trying to save Bees, as with out them and the Bees most animals plants and humans will die. Please think before you buy so called vegan products think, how are these clothes and beauty products made, also food are they GMO free! As even some vegan clothes and how they are manufactured are harmful to the environment, also how are they disposed of.
Very good points Jack! Thank you for a balanced view.