This is the statement from their website:
Animal products
Our products do not contain animal derivatives. The only exception is Milk whey which is included in Ecover Camomile and Marigold washing up liquid. Apart from this one washing up liquid, all Ecover products carry the Vegan Society label, which means that a leading vegan organisation deems them suitable for consumers who do not wish to use products containing animal ingredients. An alternative vegan washing up liquid, Lemon and Aloe Vera, has, however, been developed and was launched in 1997.
Animal experiments
From the outset, Ecover has never tested ingredients or products on animals, nor commissioned such tests, and it has always been candid about it. In our opinion, animal testing to assess environmental and health risks is unnecessary.
Ecover is a pioneering company whose cleaning products are produced with the objective of minimising their impact on the environment. Ecover products are developed using formulations based on renewable plant, and widely available mineral ingredients as an alternative to the petro-chemical based brands which currently dominate the market.
All Ecover ingredients, therefore, are chosen to ensure that our products achieve the lowest possible toxicity and the most rapid and complete biodegradability to minimise the impact on the environment and all life forms.
Because of these demanding objectives and because Ecover is the leading company in this, Ecover is working with a higher proportion of new ingredients which can offer improved overall environmental advantages to the benefit of all forms of life, whether human, animal or plant.
Alternatives to Animal Testing
For a long time, Ecover has been using alternative testing methods based on bacteria, algae and red blood cells to evaluate the possible environmental and health risks posed by various products. Since we also expect the same level of commitment from our suppliers, we ask them for an annual statement confirming that the materials they supply to us have not been tested on animals. What is significant in this respect is not so much our control but on-going encouragement to keep looking for reliable alternatives.
Actual Policy
In line with ECOVER’s environmental policy and in recognition of the strong beliefs held by animal welfare organisations, we offer a clearly defined animal testing policy:
since their foundation in 1980 ECOVER have never tested any finished products or ingredients on animals, nor have they ordered such tests by third parties
for research and product development ECOVER use alternative methods of testing only. For Example – RBC (Red blood cell test)
all Ecover suppliers are required to submit an annual written confirmation for each ingredient that no animal tests have been conducted on it. These statements guarantee that none of the ingredients have been tested or re-tested for the last five years
Ecover will continue to pressure all suppliers to ban animal testing
Ecover is not a member of BIBRA
to reflect the development of Ecover’s animal testing policy Ecover supports FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments)
Ecover and a Fixed Cut Off Date
Ecover continually strive to improve their product range against all of their exacting criteria - These include sustainability of ingredients, achieving low aquatic toxicity, effective primary degradation, High skin compatibility and good ultimate (secondary) degradation. In addition the products must also perform and be available at a realistic price. To achieve this Ecover are continually developing and testing new ingredients. We do not perform these tests on animals and employ alternative methods.
For these ingredients to be included in a product, ingredient suppliers are forced by international law to prove their innocuity.
The introduction of a fixed cut off date at this stage would prevent Ecover from using these new ingredients and advances in their products which are developed in order to further benefit the environment. This is because a fixed cut off date prevents a company from introducing any ingredients that have been developed after this date.
For example, in March 2002 Ecover introduced Ecover Squirteco – a ready to use all purpose cleaner. The product was developed using a new generation of ingredients – bio-surfactants. Ecover have tested the product and its ingredients extensively using alternative methods. However a fixed cut off date would have prevented its introduction.
Ecover believe that by operating the five year rolling rule we are upholding our beliefs – we are honest and integral in our approach and will continue to pioneer for the future