We know that each time we buy organic and natural, we’re driving the demand for more products with the same high standards. It’s kind of like casting a vote with our dollars. Still, it’s often confusing to know just what we’re supporting with each purchase. One of the organizations helping us make more informed choices is The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, which marks cruelty-free products with the Leaping Bunny symbol. The cruelty-free bunny symbol has been around in one cute form or another for more than a decade, but it’s now more widely used than ever, with support from Canada and the E.U. Unlike the simple statement ‘We do not test on animals,’ the Leaping Bunny ensures that neither the maker of the product, nor its ingredient suppliers, tested on animals at any point during development or production. Now, checking the ingredients is still up to us (our work is never done!) but it’s a place to start and a critical standard for anyone who stands behind humane beauty. You can go to leapingbunny.org to pledge that you’ll only use cruelty-free products in 2009 and see a list of companies who abide by the standard. Check it out, pledge and tell your friends! Writer :: Jolene Hart