This annual awards system was set up to promote the genuinely cruelty-free companies that are helping pave the way to a fully cruelty-free Aotearoa.

Every year, we invite the public to vote for their favourite brand featured in our Cruelty Free Guide — the companies that receive the most votes (over a two-week period) are named our Cruelty Free NZ Awards winners!

Our Cruelty Free NZ Awards are the perfect way to give companies that are 100% free from animal testing the public recognition that they deserve. We also hope that they act as another reminder for Kiwis to make sure that the products they are purchasing are not tested on animals.

More and more brands around the globe are moving away from the cruelty of animal testing. This is no accident. It is a direct result of people around the world voting with their wallets and showing that there is a demand for cruelty-free products.

It's important that we keep up this momentum and keep paving the way for a cruelty-free Aotearoa. One of the best ways we can do that is by shining a light on the genuinely cruelty-free companies that are actively ensuring that their products will never be tested on animals.

Why our Cruelty Free NZ Awards are important

Testing cosmetics on animals is illegal in New Zealand, but cosmetics tested on animals can still be imported from overseas and sold in NZ. The rules also do not apply to household and other products such as washing powder.

Horrific things have been done to animals for testing cosmetics and household products. It is estimated that globally around 500,000 animals suffer and die just for cosmetics each year.

The types of tests animals are subject to for cosmetics are gruesome. They include:

• Force-feeding animals substances to assess what negative effects it might have on that animal. They may experience diarrhoea, convulsions, bleeding from the mouth, seizures, paralysis, and death.
• Applying substances to the skin of animals. Sometimes enough is applied to kill the animal via its toxic effects within two weeks.
• Forcing animals to inhale substances. They may experience bleeding of the nose, convulsions, paralysis, and seizures before death.
• Dropping substances into the eyes of animals (usually rabbits). Their eyes may show signs of redness, bleeding, ulcers, blindness and other signs of damage.
• And so much more!

This is completely unnecessary! Many companies are skipping animal testing altogether – like all the companies in our Cruelty Free Guide.

The companies doing better and ensuring that their products aren't used in cruel and unreliable animal tests deserve our praise. They prove that amazing, high-quality products can be produced without harming animals. Our annual Cruelty Free NZ Awards provide an important opportunity to promote these companies and encourage more people to use their consumer power to help #endanimaltesting!

Past winners

2020

Kester Black — First Place

The Bonbon Factory — Second Place

Aleph Beauty — Third Place

Find out more here. 

2021

Dazz NZ — First Place

Aleph Beauty — Second Place

Little Honey — Third Place

Find out more here. 

2022/2023

Coming soon!

Note: Only companies listed in our Cruelty Free Guide are eligible for a Cruelty Free NZ Award.  Companies can apply to be added to our Cruelty Free Guide here.