Pantene is Not Cruelty-Free and Not Vegan
- Updated on July 4, 2022
- By James Daniel
- Not Cruelty-Free
- Not Vegan
- Parent company (Procter & Gamble) is not cruelty-free
About Pantene
Pantene is a brand known for its hair care products, but is Pantene cruelty-free and vegan? On this page we explain everything you need to know about the animal-testing policies and practices of Pantene, their ethical practices generally, and whether or not they use animal-derived ingredients in their products.
Is Pantene Cruelty-Free?
Pantene is not cruelty-free. They may claim that they don't test their products on animals, but this doesn't mean they don't test through third parties, their suppliers, or in countries where it is required by law. Pantene has no credible cruelty-free certifications.
At EthicalAble, we reach out to brands to enquire about their animal testing policies. Typically, we take their answers at face value, however, we also perform independent research to verify their claims.
The requirements for us to to confirm that a brand or company is cruelty-free are:
- The brand does not test their finished products on animals,
- The brand does not test its ingredients on animals,
- The brand does not use suppliers that test on animals (and takes reasonable steps to verify this),
- The brand does not commission third parties to test on animals,
- The brand does not sell its products when required by law and/or in countries that require animal testing.
Is Pantene Vegan?
Pantene is not vegan. They may claim to sell some products that contain no animal-derived ingredients, but they any certifications they claim to have supporting this claim are unsatisfactory. Furthermore, because the brand is not cruelty-free, they are not considered vegan.
In determining whether or not a brand is vegan, we use the definition of veganism put forward by The Vegan Society.
Therefore, to consider a brand to be 100% vegan, they must “exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals” and not use animal-derived ingredients in their products.
If a brand is not cruelty-free, they cannot be considered vegan.
Ethical Overview
| Pantene | Answer |
|---|---|
| Products tested on animals? | In some cases |
| Ingredients tested on animals? | No |
| Suppliers or manufacturers test on animals? | No |
| Third parties test on behalf? | In some cases |
| Vegan? | Not Vegan |
Further Information
Cruelty-Free Certifications
Pantene has no cruelty-free certifications because Pantene is not cruelty-free.
The cruelty-free certifications we compare brands against are Leaping Bunny and PETA. Many cruelty-free brands are certified by at least one of these two bodies. You can generally (but not always) trust that a brand with one of these certifications is truly cruelty-free and does not carry out or allow any form of animal-testing in any part of its supply chain.
Read more about certifications here.
Does Pantene Sell In Countries Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Pantene sells its products in countries like mainland China where animal testing on imported cosmetics and other products sold in domestic retail stores may be required by law.
Many brands refuse to sell in countries where animal testing is required, but Pantene chooses to pursue profits over the welfare of animals.
What About The Parent Company?
Pantene is owned by Procter & Gamble, which is not a cruelty-free company.
Some people believe that if a parent company tests on animals, the child brand cannot be considered cruelty-free. We respect this view, but we do not take the parent company into account when designating a brand cruelty-free on EthicalAble. You can learn more about why we adopt this policy here.
On This Page
About EthicalAble
At EthicalAble, we provide information about cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainable beauty products. We’re here to help those those seeking ethical alternatives. Read more about us.
