The holidays are coming up and with them the biggest shopping season of the year. Whoever is on your list this year, it’s so important to be able to stock up on all the best, most exciting things without compromising your ethics—which can be hard with so many options on the market!
Shopping ethically during the holiday season can be one of the best ways to put your money where your mouth is, but sometimes it can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve put together this easy guide to a cruelty-free Christmas, including the easiest ways to make sure you’re shopping ethically, our favorite cruelty-free brands, and the best ways to get the goodies, everyone, on your list will love without supporting brands whose values aren’t in line with your own.
Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan: What’s the Difference?
Many of us assume that all cruelty-free brands are vegan, but that often isn’t the case. While all vegan products are cruelty-free, not all cruelty-free brands are vegan. Confusing, right? It doesn’t have to be!
If you’re comfortable with non-vegan gifts, cruelty-free labeling might indicate that your gift choices align with your values, but if you aren’t keeping your purchases strictly vegan ensures that absolutely no animals were harmed during the process of your gift’s creation.
Once you start shopping, sticking to vegan brands can be an easy way to make sure your gifts are cruelty-free.
Know Your Labels
Learning the secret language of labeling is a great way to check your gifts’ cruelty-free status on the go, while you’re browsing in the store or clicking around online.
There are a few major designations indicating cruelty-free status, including the leaping bunny, which means a product wasn’t tested on animals, and PETA has animal-free and test-free certifications that mean no animal was ever involved in the production of your gift.
Other certifications, like GOTS for textiles or the Forest Stewardship Council designation for paper products, let you know you’re shopping in an environmentally friendly way, although the product may not be vegan or cruelty-free.
Stick To Brands With a Track Record
The unfortunate truth behind cruelty-free branding is that there is currently no existing system of government regulation to ensure that brands that claim cruelty-free status are living up to their
promises. Because of this, the best way to make sure you’re shopping cruelty-free is to stick to brands with an established track record of making clean, ethical products.
For example, if your giftee loves beauty, shopping vegan beauty means you don’t have to laboriously read each label—you can go hog wild on the ordering knowing your ethics are taken care of.
Homemade is Always A Great Option
If you can’t find a cruelty-free brand that matches up with your giftee’s interest, going homemade is an excellent way to make sure your gift is up to your ethical standards. After all, if you make something in your own home you’ll know exactly what goes into it!
Simple cruelty-free crafts that don’t require a lot of special skills include a vegan hot chocolate kit, cookies, or even bath salts mixed up with dried herbs and flowers. Just put a bow on it and call it a day!
Make a Donation
Sometimes nontangible gifts are the most memorable, and that’s certainly true when it comes to giving back.
To make your giftee feel special, make a holiday donation in their name to their favorite cause. Alternatively, all-purpose gift cards from organizations like Charity on Top allow them to give back to their favorite organization of choice. Don’t Sweat the Small stuff!
Last but not least, when it comes to shopping cruelty-free, remember that what matters is doing your best. The holidays can be stressful, but shopping ethically and paying attention to the values that motivate you all year long is a great way to give a gift that keeps giving.
