Vegan-friendly bathroom and kitchen products for the workplace

To ensure that a product (such as soap, toilet paper or washing up liquid) is suitable for vegans, it must contain no animal-derived ingredients and be cruelty-free. In this article, we explain what to look out for when buying products for the workplace to ensure that they are suitable for vegan employees. We also provide some examples of brands that are both vegan and cruelty-free.

Some products may be labelled as ‘vegan’ or ‘vegan-friendly’ but be tested on animals, and other products may be cruelty-free but contain animal-derived ingredients. In other words, it’s important to check both the ingredients and the brand’s animal testing policy, as these two labels aren't always interchangeable.

It's important to note that these brands/products were vegan-friendly at the time of writing, but companies may introduce new products or change ingredients and production methods so we can’t guarantee that they will remain vegan-friendly. If you’re unsure, it's safest to look for products explicitly labelled as vegan (for example, using The Vegan Society trademark).

Animal-derived ingredients

Common animal-derived ingredients found in cosmetics and bathroom products include honey, beeswax, milk, and milk derivatives. Gelatin is often present in toilet paper. To play it safe, look for products specifically labelled as vegan.

Animal testing

Many major brands conduct animal testing, so it's crucial to check for this as well. By default, assume that a soap or bathroom product is tested on animals unless it explicitly states otherwise on the packaging or the brand's website.

Most well-known toilet paper brands also test on animals. The best option is to choose products certified as cruelty-free, such as those bearing the Leaping Bunny certification.

Vegan and cruelty free brands

To make things easier for you, here are some examples of vegan and cruelty-free brands for soap, washing up liquid and toilet paper.

Please note that while this list is accurate at the time of writing, brands sometimes add new products and/or change their policies and ingredients. We’d suggest double checking the brand is still vegan and cruelty-free before you make a purchase.

Soap and washing up liquid:

• Ecover

• Faith in Nature

• Original Source

• Method

• Smol

Toilet roll

• Who Gives a Crap

• The Cheeky Panda

• Bazoo

• Bumboo