One Voice Cruelty-Free Certification Explained

The former One Voice label was a cruelty-free claim. The descriptions in this section concern the program that ended in October 2022. The former scheme's published criteria restricted animal-derived ingredients but made an exception for bee products such as honey, pollen, and beeswax, so a product carrying the former label was not necessarily vegan. Shoppers who want products entirely free of animal ingredients need to check the ingredient list or look for an active vegan certification.

The former scheme's verification relied chiefly on declarations and documentation from the brand and its suppliers. That was a desk review. Leaping Bunny requires an ongoing supplier monitoring system. The former One Voice scheme did not. The depth of supply chain assurance was therefore more limited. The brand attested that its ingredient suppliers did not test on animals, but that chain was not subject to the same level of independent scrutiny.

The former label reflected a brand's membership and commitments at a point in time. As with any private certification, a logo printed on packaging can outlast a brand's participation in the scheme. One Voice ended its certification program in October 2022 and gradually ended brand partnerships. A former logo does not establish current certification.

The European Union banned animal testing of finished cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients, with the final marketing ban taking full effect in 2013. This raises an obvious question. Why do cruelty-free labels still exist in Europe at all? The main reasons are gaps at the edges of the ban. Some chemicals used in cosmetics are also regulated under EU chemicals legislation (REACH), which can still require animal testing for worker or environmental safety. In addition, some markets outside the EU have historically required animal testing for imported cosmetics, so a brand selling globally may fund testing abroad even if its EU products are untested. Certifications attempt to close these gaps through brand-wide commitments.

Among the schemes, Leaping Bunny is generally regarded as the most rigorous, with supplier monitoring criteria and independent audits. PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies is broader and better known internationally but relies largely on brand assurances. The former One Voice verification was generally considered less extensive than Leaping Bunny's, and its recognition was concentrated in France. Its former logo is now a historical mark and does not establish current certification. For international assurance, Leaping Bunny remains the stricter benchmark.