Bath and Body Works, LLC. is a retailer that was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio USA. Despite the company’s offices being in Ohio, the first store opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a local mall. In 1997, they opened their second store and soon others followed.
In 2006, Bath and Body Works launched a website and a seasonal catalog. Two years later, the brand expanded in Canada, and later it became international.
Today, Bath and Body Works has over 1,600 stores all over the world. They stock various bath, skincare, and beauty products.
Is Bath and Body Work Cruelty-Free?
| Not sold in China? | No |
| PETA Certified | No |
| Leaping Bunny Certified | No |
| Has vegan products | Yes(*) |
| Not owned by a Parent Company that does Animal Testing? | – |
No, Bath and Body Works isn’t cruelty-free.
Some brands that are sold in Bath and Body Works store aren’t cruelty-free and these brands either conduct animal tests by themselves or pay the third-party to test for them in countries where animal testing is required by law. When this is the case, the retailer itself cannot be cruelty-free. Even though most products that Bath and Body Works sells can be exempt from pre-market testing in China, they most likely can’t bypass the post-market testing.
When it comes to Bath and Body Works’ manufactured products, its products aren’t tested on animals, as well as the ingredients and formulations. But, they still sell in countries where testing is required by law, so Bath and Body Works is not cruelty-free in any way, shape, or form.
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Are Bath and Body Work products sold in China?
Yes, Bath and Body Works’ products are sold in mainland China.
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What is the Deal with China?
Even though animal testing is proven to be an unnecessary and unethical practice, some countries still require it by law. This is the case with the second-biggest market in the world, China.
China requires any beauty product to be tested on animals before allowing importation and being sold in Chinese stores. Any company or brand that makes the decision to sell in China has also decided to test on animals – either by themselves or, usually, by paying a third-party company to test on their behalf. This is the main reason why a lot of brands can’t achieve a true cruelty-free status. After growing public outrage, China did lift some regulations in 2014, which allowed certain beauty products, such as shampoos and other skincare items, to be imported without testing, but this is still a small percentage.
A lot of brands that claim to be cruelty-free are being misleading thanks to these laws. Even if a brand doesn’t conduct animal testing on its own, by deciding to take the opportunity and sell in countries such as China, it is allowing a third-party to test the final product on animals. This is why PETA and the Leaping Bunny Program have forbidden brands that they certify to expand their market in this direction – and rightfully so.
A lot of companies are working with the Chinese government on lifting these regulations, and legislation was proposed in 2019 that should stop mandatory animal testing. However until today, no substantial progress has been made in this regard, we continue to wait patiently.
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Is Bath and Body Work Vegan?
No, Bath and Body Works isn’t vegan. Neither the brand’s exclusive products nor the brands it sells are vegan, as a lot of products contain animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products. You can find some vegan items in their stores, but as the brand isn’t cruelty-free, none of its products can truly be considered vegan(*).
Who owns Bath and Body Work and does the parent company test on animals?
Bath and Body Works is owned by L Brands, an American fashion retailer brand. The L Brands aren’t necessarily a cosmetics company, so they don’t have a clear cruelty-free policy.
What products does Bath and Body Work sell?
Bath and Body Works sells a variety of beauty and bath products. In their stores, you can find anything from candles to hand soaps and creams. The Bath and Body Works products itself are mostly body care, soaps, and hand sanitizers, as well as home fragrance.
Bath and Body Works has several collections and product lines, such as Signature collection, C.O. Bigelow, Coco Shea, and Retired fragrances. They have products for both male and female consumers and are widely loved and recognized.
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