Each year 500,000 animals are injured or killed as a direct result of cosmetic testing. 25 million animals dead within 50 years– just a single ingredient being tested can kill at least 1,400 animals alone.

These are staggering statistics and despite awareness and outrage of this issue growing steadily, the Australian Government is still yet to ban the practice from happening.

But hope (at least in micro form) is on the horizon.

Currently there is a Bill amendment to restrict cosmetics animal testing, sitting before the Senate, which (provided no one goes rogue) will pass in July this year.

Australians spend $12 billion a year on their pets, with 8 million people nationwide owning at least one animal. There’s little surprise that we no longer accept the cruel and unnecessary practice of animal testing.

The Body Shop, and Cruelty Free International have also played a crucial role in this progress and bringing the issue to a social forefront. Together they’ve launched a global petition #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting which has been signed by a colossal 5.5 million people worldwide.

The petition can be signed online or at any of The Body Shop’s 3,000 stores across the world with the promise, that once the petition reaches 8 million signatures the two organisations will present the response to the United Nations, calling for an international convention to ban animal testing on cosmetics.

And locally, The Body Shop Australia has teamed up with the RSPCA’s Million Paws Walks across the country to highlight its Forever Against Animal Testing campaign and to build momentum here, ahead of expected legislation changes in July.

Australians are also being encouraged to use the campaign hashtag #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting on social media to raise awareness.