Press release: 30th April 2009
Facing Up To The Welfare Challenge
RSPCA calls on cosmetics companies to enter the 2009 Good Business Awards
Cosmetics companies with a passion for animal welfare are being urged to enter this year's RSPCA Good Business Awards, which recognise ethical business approaches to animal welfare, following growing demand for welfare-friendly products.
The RSPCA Good Business Awards cosmetics category, in association with SPC Magazine, is open to all cosmetics and beauty businesses which show innovation and excellence in advancing animal welfare within the cosmetics industry. It is free to enter, and companies can go to www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com to download an entry form.
Proving how all businesses should strive to make animal welfare an integral part of their ethical policy, new RSPCA research by Ipsos MORI¹ has found that 59% of British consumers see animal welfare as an important ethical issue to consider when buying a product, up from 48% two years ago. Human rights (58%), fair trade goods (51%) and protecting the environment (50%) are also considered important ethical issues that should be considered in addition to factors such as price and quality.
David Bowels, RSPCA Head of External Affairs, says: "This is the fifth year of the Good Business Awards and we want to reward the efforts being made by fashion companies - both large and small - that go the extra mile to promote animal welfare and recognise that consumers haven't left behind their ethical beliefs in a quest for value."
Gerard Duvé, awards judge² and consultant to Frame (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments), and former Head of Technical Services at Superdrug, said: "We want to encourage companies to be pro-active and publicise welfare concerns, as well as ensuring by means of lobbying, financial support and/or urging their suppliers and manufacturers to do their bit so that alternatives to animal testing are continuously being developed.
"Companies that are doing this, or seeking to, deserve our support and recognition. We hope to see more entries than ever before this year."
Bulldog and The Body Shop were the winners of last year's cosmetics category for their commitment to animal welfare and for promoting alternatives to animal testing. M&S was also awarded the Commitment to Change Award, for its continual drive to promote animal welfare in the industry.
All entries to the 2009 awards will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts. Winners will be promoted on the RSPCA Good Business Awards website and achievements will be detailed in an ethical consumer guide to choosing higher welfare companies.
The judges will be looking for cosmetics companies who can:
Ensure that no ingredients used in cosmetics products were tested on animals after a fixed cut off date, which is no later than 11 March 2009.
Demonstrate a set of robust systems to check that suppliers operate to the same standard.
Demonstrate a proactive approach to achieving a reduction in animal use, including funding into alternatives.
Show transparent policies and demonstrate a willingness to share data and raise the profile of animal welfare.
Demonstrate a commitment to the '3R's concept' - replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use.
Entry forms and guidelines can be downloaded from www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com or by contacting the RSPCA Good Business Awards team on 0300 123 0488 or awards@rspca.org.uk.The entry deadline is 30 June 2009.
The RSPCA Good Business Awards gala ceremony will be held at One Marylebone, London on 7 October 2009.
For media enquiries, please contact Vaneetha Balasubramaniam or Nicki Akers at 77PR on 0207 492 0977. Email vaneetha.b@77pr.co.uk or nicki.akers@77pr.co.uk or the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244 or press@rspca.org.uk.
Find out more about this year's winners.
Find out how your company can be part of the RSPCA Good Business Awards 20010
Notes to editors:
1. Results based on 1,012 face-to-face interviews conducted in-home with adults aged 15+ in Great Britain on Ipsos MORI's weekly omnibus. Fieldwork was conducted from 20 - 26 February 2009. The detailed results of this research for the RSPCA can be found on Ipsos MORI's website: www.ipsos-mori.com
.2. The judging panel for the cosmetics category is: Gerard Duvé, consultant to Frame (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments), and former Head of Technical Services at Superdrug; and Clare Henderson, editor of Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics magazine.
3. The cosmetics category of the Good Business Awards 2009 is in association with Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics magazine.
About the Good Business Awards
The RSPCA Good Business Awards were set up in recognition of the achievements of companies in the cosmetics, fashion and food industries to attain higher standards of animal welfare by implementing sustainable policies and practices.
The RSPCA are pleased to announce SPC Magazine as the official media partner for the cosmetics category of the 2009 Good Business Awards.
Animal Welfare Can Be Fashionable
Be loud and proud of your animal welfare credentials
