Saturday 9 June 2012

Are Urban Decay Jeopardising Their Cruelty-Free Image?

I don't normally post about things like this on my blog as I like to keep my blog a happy place, free of controversy. However, after hearing about this a couple of days ago I was annoyed, as it involves one of my favourite make-up brands.
Before I start, I will be the first to admit that although I do not condone animal testing in any way, I am not as precarious in making sure that I only use products from cruelty-free companies as I should be. However, I highly respect the companies who sell themselves as strictly cruelty-free and show that testing on animals is unnecessary, and Urban Decay has stood out to me as one of these companies and has been my favourite high-end make-up brand for its eye shadows and primer potion for the past four or five years. A few days ago, Urban Decay announced that they are expanding their market in to China, where the policies on animal testing are not as strict. This has resulted in the brand being de-listed by Leaping Bunny. Read Urban Decay's full statement here.

"For 16 years, we have been committed to two key causes: women’s rights, and the fight against animal testing. Our dedication to those causes will not waver".

Right, I can't help but think that Urban Decay are contradicting themselves from the get-go here. By allowing their products to be sold in China they are also allowing for their products to be tested on animals. They state themselves that the Chinese government reserves the right to conduct animal testing with cosmetic products before the products are approved for use by Chinese citizens. They argue that the brand themselves are not testing on animals, but Chinese government might. Does this make the situation any better that they should be let off?

“If we don’t go to China, other companies without our beliefs will, and the culture will never change. We want to encourage a culture of consumers who care enough to buy cruelty-free product”.

“Our foray into this market is also about participating in an amazing time of change in China. We don’t like animal testing (and neither do the 13 dogs in our office), but we are trying to change the world… even if it is one eye shadow at a time!”

What? Oh, Urban Decay, you as a company alone are not going to change the cultures and policies regarding animal rights in China, especially as a company that will be mostly or entirely new and unheard of to the Chinese population.

"Yes, we are a for-profit company. And yes, we would eventually like to make money in China. But we don’t stand to turn a profit in China for quite a while, partially because the market isn’t quite ready to sustain an untraditional brand like ours. If it were only about the money, we would wait a few years".

Hm. Then why not expand to other countries such as Australia and New Zealand instead, where the brand is more heard of and the rights of animals is more widely supported instead of a country that “isn't quite ready to sustain an untraditional brand”. Are you sure that it has nothing to do with the 1.3 billion population that China has?

I hope that Urban Decay sees sense and decides not to expand their market to China, although regardless, this statement has marred the trust I previously had for the brand. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I am not trying to make out as though I am a strictly cruelty-free consumer myself, and I raise my hand to not doing much research on the matter before I go out and purchase products, but none-the-less I feel more disappointed that Urban Decay are turning their backs on what they stood for in the first place. I feel that they are essentially harming the relationship they have with their current customers, especially those who are vegetarian and vegan who may have looked up to them for being a cruelty-free brand, in order to spread themselves across to a highly populated country where the chances of making a profit are high. Please stand up to your cruelty-free status, Urban Decay!

How do you feel about Urban Decay's decision to expand to China?

24 comments:

  1. I don't own much Urban Decay makeup anyway and like yourself, I prefer cruelty free products but don't actively seek them out as much as I probably should. But I agree with you on the worst bit being the fact that they're doing a total u-turn on their ethos really..
    I tagged you in an 11 questions post here :) http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/and-i-lit-fire-that-wouldnt-go-out.html

    xo

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    1. Thanks for tagging me in your post lovely! I will read it soon :) x

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  2. i dont own any urban decay, but i do prefer products that are cruelty free, its a bit of a dissapointment! xo

    vintage-teapot.blogspot.ie

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    1. Yeah :( their policies were one of the reasons why I looked up to them as a brand! x

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  3. This statement sounds utter garbage. It is unbelievably contradictory.

    This part in particular:

    “If we don’t go to China, other companies without our beliefs will, and the culture will never change. We want to encourage a culture of consumers who care enough to buy cruelty-free product”.

    How can they possibly encourage a "culture of consumers who care enough to buy cruelty-free products" if they're planning on diving into China where animal testing is routine?

    I agree, if they want to expand they should do it in places like Australia for the exact reason you mentioned. It's evidently all about the money and not about the brand itself.

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    1. Exactly. Maybe we are just missing the point but I just can't put my finger on how they plan on changing this culture when they are diving in to it themselves. x

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  4. say what, Urban Decay should seer clear and go somewhere else that will respect and live out their policies and where people want the product, hopefully they do not go through with it!

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    1. I agree, there are plenty of other countries on the market that will support their cruelty-free policies! x

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  5. You are so right, if they wanted to expand just to 'create more awareness' then they should expand somewhere other then China where the brand is more heard of! Hopefully enough people will object and they wont go through with it!

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    1. I agree! I believe there is a petition against this floating around somewhere x

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  6. I'm the same as you, I probably should be more careful about what I use but I 100% respect any companies that are cruelty free. I am disappointed that so many companies are taking this route just because they think it will create more custom for them :(

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    1. Yeahh, it's just a shame that a brand that made a name for themselves by being cruelty-free are going in to this :( x

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  7. I'm really disappointed in Urban Decay. MAC did the same thing. Here in the Uk the label 'cruelty free' actually helps sales, whereas in China noone's bothered. It really hits home that the non animal-testing policy is not a heartfelt ethical policy with these companies.. it's just a sales tactic.

    Personally I don't think I'll be buying from Urban Decay again, it's not so much the animal testing though of course I'm against it, it's the way they've tried to contrive it so they look like some sort of 'behind enemy lines' freedom fighters. I don't think anyone's buying that crap and I for one have really lost respect for them as a brand... someone should email their PR the link to your post! Bicky at Tastes Like Glitter did a good post on this too :)

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    1. Thanks lovely, I will check out Bicky's post in a second! I know, I hate that brands are turning against their ethical morals in order to gain a profit... I too, athough of course I do not agree with animal testing the slightest, am more disappointed that they have turned against what they have stood up for for the past 16 years and are trying to justify it. x

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  8. I was shocked when I read this it's so disappointing! :(

    Natasha Carly x
    http://prettylittlelives.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. I know, they were one of the last companies I expected to do this :( x

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  9. It's really shocking to hear this, it's sad to hear that companies are willing to go against their morals and beliefs in order to sell a product. Instead they should have stuck to their morals and promote their products elsewhere!

    Charlee
    http://charmedcharlee.blogspot.com/
    xx

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    1. I know! There are plenty of other places that Urban Decay could expand to that would allow them to stick to their morals :( x

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  10. Well said Frances! I completely agree with you. Its such a disappointment, it feels like a bit of a sell out, and the way that they leapt to defend their decision and bring profit into it only makes it feel more that they are doing it for just that reason, it just sounds like they feel a bit guilty.
    I hope they see sense. xx

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    1. Thanks sweet! Yeah I agree, I think it's mainly the way that they got so defensive that really narked me, it's like they are trying to make up excuses to try and justify it :/ x

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  11. I'm really dissapointed in this, I completely understand a companies need/want to expand etc but I truly think Urban decay are enough of an established and 'big' company to not have to go to China etc if they fail to comply with the standards they previously adhered to! It's just a little :( really when more companies need to be making the move to stand up for these rights instead of falling away like they all seem to be!

    Sarah
    http://fashionismyh2o.blogspot.co.uk/
    xx

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    1. Yeah it's just really disappointing :( People who looked up to them as a company for the cruelty-free policy will feel betrayed x

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  12. Thank you for this post! I have recently become more interested in cruelty-free makeup and I am very disappointed to read their statement. It's kind of amusing how they try to justify their move to China...surely they would make a better stand by boycotting China and maybe would lead other companies to follow suit? I guess they just couldn't resist the potentially huge market.

    Apparently there are many companies like this that claim to be 'cruelty-free' but sell their products in China like Avon. I've never purchased from Urban Decay and now I wouldn't after reading this. Maybe if all their customers did the same they would truly learn how to 'change culture'

    Sorry for that long response, their u-turn just annoyed me so much!

    smazsays.blogspot.co.uk

    Sarah

    xx

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    1. No worries lovely! Yeah, their statement really reads like they are trying to make excuses :/ I hope that seeing how many of their current customers they have disappointed and lost will bring some sense to them; it isn't guaranteed that they will be successful in the Chinese market anyway! x

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