Vegan Certification
Independent verification that a product contains no animal-derived ingredients.
What it is
A third-party mark — most commonly The Vegan Society's sunflower trademark, Vegan Action's Certified Vegan logo, or PETA's Vegan mark — confirming a product is free of meat, dairy, eggs, honey, beeswax, lanolin, carmine, gelatin, silk and other animal-sourced substances. Vegan certification covers ingredients only, not animal testing.
How it's verified
Brands submit full ingredient lists, supplier declarations, and manufacturing process documentation. The Vegan Society audits ingredient origins and re-licenses annually. Vegan Action checks for cross-contamination protocols on shared production lines.
What to look for
The Vegan Society trademark (sunflower with 'Vegan' wordmark), Vegan Action's Certified Vegan logo, or the PETA Vegan bunny mark. All three require ingredient verification by a third party.
Watch out for
'Plant-based' is a marketing term — not a certified claim. A product can call itself plant-based while containing dairy or honey. Self-declared 'vegan' without a third-party logo is not verified.
What it doesn't cover
Vegan certification says nothing about animal testing (look for Leaping Bunny separately), labour conditions, environmental impact, or whether the product is organic.
Top Vegan-certified products
The highest-scoring products in our database that carry Vegan certification.
A highly concentrated, versatile cleaner formulated for tough tasks like outdoor furniture and gardening tools, without synthetic dyes or fragrances.
A gold-standard example of regenerative agriculture, these oats go beyond organic by actively restoring soil health and ensuring fair wages for farmers in a vertically integrated supply chain.
An ultra-ethical, plastic-free backpack made from organic cotton canvas in a Fair Trade certified factory, supporting carbon neutrality and hunger relief.
A multi-use, fair-trade organic soap that is gentle enough for pets yet effective at removing grime and odors.
A zero-waste, plastic-free solid shampoo bar that replaces three plastic bottles, featuring fair-trade ingredients and a focus on water conservation.
A premium gift set of dark chocolate bars that redefine ethical sourcing through regenerative organic farming and fair trade wages.
A zero-waste, plastic-free body cleanser bar that replaces three bottles of liquid soap and uses regenerative fair-trade ingredients.
A fluoride-free, 70% organic toothpaste that leads the industry in fair trade sourcing and activist corporate governance.
A zero-waste, plastic-free shampoo bar equivalent to three bottles of liquid shampoo, utilizing fair-trade cocoa butter and peppermint oil.
Frequently asked
Is vegan the same as cruelty-free?+
No. Vegan refers to ingredients (no animal substances). Cruelty-free refers to testing (no animal experiments). A product can be one without the other — look for both certifications if both matter to you.
Are all natural ingredients vegan?+
No. Honey, beeswax, lanolin (wool wax), carmine (crushed beetles), shellac (lac insects), tallow, gelatin, casein and whey are all natural and all animal-derived. Vegan certification flags them.