Purchasing Power - LeapingBunny.org

I'm a firm believer in the power of the purse. What we buy and who we choose to buy it from does make the difference in the lives on animals, their environments, as well as the people who make the wares we use.

We would like to share with you some of the most trusted seals available, to help you make more conscious purchasing decisions. These will be presented in subsequent blogs; and we will start with LeapingBunny.org.

Some cosmetic, toiletry and cleaning product labels may claim that their final product has not been tested on animals, but how can you be sure? Also, there may not be any claims about each of the individual ingredients used.

The Leaping Bunny program is administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a consortium of animal welfare groups, including The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Association, and others. Companies who sport the Leaping Bunny logo on their label claim that the product is 100% cruelty free; this means that neither the product - during any stage of its developement - nor the ingredients used were tested on any animal.

The Coalition also has an online Cruelty-free Shopping Guide to help you make the most informed decisions.

New Shagwear Accessories Added

We've added more Shagwear items including . . .

• Peacock Change Purse, which matches our Shagwear Peacock Wallet and Peacock Bag.
  
  
• Free Bird Change Purse, which matches our Shagwear Free Bird Wallet and Free Bird Bag.
  
  
• Travel Cat Wallet, a fun design depicting a cat who loves to travel.
  

We love Shagwear bags and accessories. They are well-designed and feature fun and innovative designs for animal lovers. Best of all, they are cruelty free. :)

Can You Trust Green and Cruelty Free Labels?

You set out to purchase a product that you believe is green or cruelty free. After all, the label on the product you're holding is sporting an impressive-looking seal - one which appears to be that of a credible organization. That seal could be misleading.

One way to be sure the product you're purchasing is really as green or humane as it claims to be, is to be certain about the seal. One website you may find helpful is greenerchoices.org, a project of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. You can do searches by product, certifier or category, to determine if a label really does mean something or if it's a front for greenwashing. Greenerchoices.org makes socially responsible shopping easy by providing report cards on various labels. Their database allows you to search by several categories, including Animal Welfare, Sustainable Agriculture and Social Responsibility.

One of the labels they deem trustworthy is that by Leapingbunny.org. I often look to purchase toiletries and cosmetics with this specific label. Several other certifications I'm familiar with include Rainforest Alliance Certified, who approves of the delicious Caribou Coffee I brew at home; Fair Trade Certified, which ensures, among several things, that overseas workers are guaranteed fair prices. Far Fetched, a line of animal themed and inspirational jewelry we carry, is Fair Trade certified.

By doing a little bit of research, you can feel better about the products you purchase. Don't fall for a label's claim just because it looks pretty. Admittedly in the past, it was easier for me to be swayed by these labels. But I've become a much savvy shopper, and hope you will be too.

Happy shopping!