Analysing the Maltese public's views of the ethics of using animals for testing cosmetics

Abstract

Human safety is of paramount concern to cosmetic companies, and to ensure this, a significant number of animals are used for testing products and their component parts. The debate concerning the morality of animal testing arose with the commencement of animal testing and the subject features strongly in environmental ethics literature. This study aims to examine the views of the Maltese public on the subject, seeking to gauge both their level of knowledge and awareness on the subject and their subsequent ethical position. Thus, the extent to which these two aspects ultimately influence their behaviour can be deduced. This question has particular relevance to Malta given the recent entry into force of a European Union ban on marketing of cosmetic products or ingredients tested on animals. The study was conducted using a mixed methods design, including both surveys of the general public and an interview with a merchandiser. Results indicate that use of cosmetics is widespread, and that the majority (69.6%) of survey respondents disagree with animal testing. There is, however, evident ambiguity concerning the moral basis for this disagreement; a smaller percentage (3.6%) of respondents disagreed with animal testing when this was for the purpose of developing medication. Such disagreement would suggest that ethical beliefs about animal rights are not applied in an absolute manner. Furthermore, results highlighted the gap often discussed in environmental psychology literature between environmental concern and the motivation to act in a pro-environmental way, and actual behaviour, with the majority of respondents (72.2%) not adopting the ethical basis of production of cosmetics as a significant criterion of choice when making purchasing decisions. This result was also confirmed during interviews with suppliers. Yet, results also indicated that consumers are willing to learn more (47.7%).