Paul Mitchell Pulls Out of Chinese Market

John Paul Mitchell Systems is showing consumers once again why it's a leader in cruelty-free compassion. The hair-care and salon giant has decided to pull entirely out of the Chinese market rather than having its products tested on animals. Paul Mitchell, whose products have never been tested on animals anywhere in the world and who had not yet been required to do so in China, is the first cruelty-free company to stop selling in that country in order to prevent cruel animal tests.  For this bold move, PETA, which has been in communication with the company for months, is presenting Paul Mitchell with its Courage in Commerce Award.

© Chris Garcia

Mary Kay, Avon, and Estée Lauder recently sold out animals when they began paying for animal testing in order to market their products in China and were thus promptly removed from PETA's cruelty-free list. But compassionate companies such as Paul Mitchell and Urban Decay are proving that they'd rather have clear consciences than a few extra yuan in their wallets.

After PETA funded a group of scientists to travel to China and offer their advice on replacing animal experiments with superior non-animal methods, the country is poised to approve its first non-animal cosmetics test. 

In the meantime, please use PETA's Caring Consumer database and support only companies that refuse to pay for any animal tests—no matter where in the world they are conducted.