Report 021, cosmetics
Marketing & Development
Ingredients in perfumes often violate animal rights heavily. Musk from deer, or civet from the civet cat are often farmed in excruciating conditions, and the consumers are often not aware of this. The producers of perfumes are obviously not upfront about this, but we think this is the perfect time to be clear.
video report 021 Vegan Perfum
The Necessary Reaction
We can make a positive change before consumers start to force it. It is in the benefit of perfume producers to open up about this, before vegan activists, or even governments put shame on the fragrance industry. We can replace traditional ingredients with synthetic counterparts, but a more logical solution would be to make a brand new perfume that consists of 100% vegan ingredients, and to make this the number one selling point of the product.
Decline of Animal Products
Vegan and vegetarian movements started their rise many years ago. This usually happened because of animal right concerns, and were often an ‘all or nothing’ deal. Eating no meat 100% of the time was the only way to go, and was often very socially restrictive as a result.
In the last 10 years, animal rights gave way, as environmental issues took the main stage. This new wave of ‘flexitarians’ were less harsh in their diets, believing it’s better to be mindful and reduce meat and animal product consumption, rather than limiting yourself fully. The flexitarians are often also trying to vegan products for everyday life, in anything from furniture, to beauty & fashion.
In ‘The World After’ a third reason also gets more prevalence. The Corona Virus made us realise that putting large amounts of animals together in cages, in undesirable conditions, is a breeding ground for disease. These diseases may be relatively harmless to the animal, but in the rare case that a disease jumps from animal to human, we can end up in a situation like Covid19.
The rise of vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians is undeniable. Even though they may not always be 100% vegan/vegetarian, their environmental consciousness makes them more adverse to products that include animals.
Background on Civet farming
Civet, farmed from the aptly named Civet cat, is mostly produced in Africa. They are caught in the wild, as any attempts to breed Civet cats have been unsuccessful. They are put in small cages, too small for the cat to even turn around in, for 24 hours a day, and up to 15 years total. The civet is a nocturnal animal, so they are kept in dark rooms which are constantly being heated by campfires. The secretion is taken from the cat every 9 to 15 days, in a process where the civet is pulled and twisted into position ready for farming. The perineal glands of the civet are opened and squeezed until the secretion comes out. During this process, the animal becomes very distressed, and injuries can occur easily. Wounds are never treated.
