We all want to do our best to help others and better our world. Incorporating innovative ways of being ethical and charitable into our daily lives is important, and a big part of what we call the 360-degree young professional (YP) lifestyle. For many of us, though, the idea of flying to a third world country to build schools, never using a plastic bag ever again, or forsaking all things meat can be a bit much, a bit overwhelming, and can actually deter us from hopping on the helping-out-bandwagon altogether. Thankfully, we at Notable are also into balance, and are always searching for ways of taking on philanthropic projects via realistic and enduring means. So to follow up on popular past articles like “Can’t Commit to Going Full Vegetarian? Try Flexy” and “Notable Young Professional Trend: Meatless Mondays,” we‘ve discovered yet another easy but powerful way to add a little more altruism to our busy YP lives: Cruelty-Free Fridays.
The Deal
Originally started by those provocative people over at PETA, as an extension of their Fur-Free Friday campaign, the first Cruelty-Free Friday took place this past Nov. 29th, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The point of the worldwide event was to encourage shoppers to spend their money on products and activities manufactured without harming or killing animals. Since that date, a variety of beauty and food bloggers, as well as activists and normal folk, have taken on the trend as a weekly endeavour. Via the support of humane retailers, products, eats, and events, Cruelty-Free Fridays has been gathering great momentum across Canada, particularly amongst the huge crowd of YP animal lovers.
How to Join in on the Cruelty-Free Fun
It may be a bit hard to believe that a movement created by PETA could be anything less than radical and hardcore, but Cruelty-Free Fridays has morphed into an accessible and user-friendly weekly affair. All it takes to get involved is a commitment to making Fridays the one day of the week that we avoid activities and products rooted in animal cruelty or exploitation. What this really means is, for example, spending the day wearing/purchasing only animal-free materials, using personal care and beauty products not tested on animals, cancelling that trip to the marine park, and checking out a hot new vegan resto. It can really be that simple, while still having a notable impact on animal welfare.
Cruelty-Free Canada
To help us prep for Cruelty-Free Friday, we enlisted the aid of Canadian blogger Kelly, creator of CrueltyFreeCanada.ca. Her informative site offers this comprehensive list of ethical brands that are either Canadian-made* or available in Canada:
Abercrombie & Fitch, Alba Botanica, Alima Pure, Almay, Andalou Naturals, Annointment*, Arbonne, Attitude*, Aubrey Organics, Avalon Organics, Badger Balm, bareFaced Mineral Cosmetics, Bare Organics*, Bath & Body Works, Batty’s Bath*, Bees Knees Body*, Bonne Bell, Butter London, Cake Beauty*, Caldrea, Carriage 44*, Cheeky Cosmetics*, Circle of Friends, Clear Conscience, Cocoon Apothecary*, Cosmic Tree Essentials*, Cover FX, Crabtree & Evelyn, Dalish cosmetics*, Delon*, Demo Soap*, Derma-e+, Dessert Essence+, Dr. Bronner’s, Druide*, Earth Mama Angel Baby+, Eco-Max*, Eco Nuts, Eco-Pioneer*, E.L.F. (eyes.lips.face.) Cosmetics, EOS (Evolution of Smooth), Forever New*, Freeman (including Bare Foot), Gosh Cosmetics, Green Beaver*, Green Cricket*, Ground Soap*, Halo Pet, Herbal Glo, Hugo & Debra Naturals, I Love My Muff*, Jason, J.R. Watkins, Juliet’s Room*, Kiss My Face, Live Clean*, L’Occitane, Logona, LOVEFRESH*, Lulu Organics, Lush, Luv U Beauty*, Mad City Soap, Merle Norman, Method, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, Natracare, Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal, Nature Clean*, Nature’s Basics, Nellie’s All-Natural, OxyLift*, Pangea Organics, Paul Mitchell, Paula’s Choice, Prairie Naturals*, Preserve Razors, Rockin’ Green, Seventh Generation, Shoosha*, Skinlove*, Soap & Glory, Sonia Kashuk, Spa Sisters*, Sukin, Thann, The Ausable River Soap Company*, The Laundry Tarts*, The Kingston Soap Company*, Upper Canada Soap*, Weleda
Taking part in animal welfare causes doesn’t have to demand that we throw red paint on every fur coat we see or shout “meat is murder” outside the local steakhouse. By doing just a bit of research about which brands, products, and businesses are up to our own ethical standards, we can all make informed and compassionate consumer decisions. So throw on your faux fur vest, rock that Arbonne lip gloss, and enjoy some spicy hummus with the knowledge that no animals were harmed in the making of your Friday.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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