florapothecarie is officially Leaping Bunny and PETA certified as cruelty-free + vegan!
What does this mean? I've always been committed to making products that are not tested on animals (neither the final product or its ingredients) and free of animal-derived ingredients. These certifications mean my claims have been verified by two independent companies who care deeply about animal welfare. It means when florapothecarie stands for something, you can trust it.
Why is this important? It's one thing to say you care about animal welfare - it's another thing to actually walk the walk. Getting certified means Leaping Bunny and PETA have checked in with every single one of my suppliers to make sure not only florapothecarie — but also the suppliers I purchase from — are committed to cruelty-free beauty.
Truthfully, this was not an easy process. It meant saying goodbye to a few of my suppliers whose prices were more competitive, but they wouldn't disclose their stance on animal testing. I'd much rather pay more to know that no animals have been harmed in the sourcing, refining, and testing of the ingredients that go into florapothecarie products.
Because of this, I have to introduce some very slight price increases to two products. As of today, our Deodorant Cream will now be $16 (previously $14) and Rose + Tea Facial Toner will be $24 (previously $22).
One of the upsides of switching suppliers (besides being assured that I'm buying from a company that has made the same cruelty-free commitment florapothecarie has) is I am able to purchase more organic and fair trade ingredients! The Shea butter I use in my Deodorant Cream and Whipped Body Butters is now USDA Certified Organic, and the Coconut Oil I use in these same products and many others is USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified. This means better quality products, a lower carbon footprint, and the assurance that animals and people are treated fairly in the procuring, processing, and distribution of these ingredients. I call that a win all around!
