Learn how to support cruelty-free financial choices for a more compassionate future.
It is estimated that up to 500,000 animals suffer or die each year because of animal testing, according to Cruelty-Free International.
While New Zealand has banned animal testing for cosmetics, it is still common practice abroad. Many brands, including some of the world's most popular, still test their products on animals, and investigations show animals experiencing huge suffering as a result. Some companies argue that they only test on animals because it is a requirement in order for products in the Chinese market. Now, a growing number of companies have chosen not to sell products that require animal testing to China.
New Zealanders’ investments financially support foreign companies that test on animals and/or have other practices that can harm animals. We invest $2.97 billion in those companies - $1.61bn through our KiwiSaver funds and $1.36bn through retail investment funds (analysis of March 2025 data).
Companies that continue to conduct animal testing, such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder (which includes popular brands MAC, Clinique and Bobbi Brown), sell versions of their products in New Zealand that have not been tested on animals.
Animal cruelty free means no investments in the following:
Read more about our methodology for identifying companies in the animal cruelty category here.
Animal Testing – Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.
Fur & Speciality Leather – Where companies are involved in the production or retail of fur & speciality leather products (where animals are raised purely for skins).
Factory Farming – Where companies are involved in intensive poultry operations, including managing direct operations which raise birds or managing a network of contracted farmers, slaughtering, packaging and onward sale to wholesalers, retailers, and restaurant chains.
Animal Welfare Issues – Where companies, through their products or operations, cause harm to animals e.g., animal entertainment (such as marine parks and rodeos), livestock exports, whale meat etc.
Look for our Animal Cruelty Free badges on funds. These have met Mindful Money's robust criteria, and are proven to have less than 0.01% (one hundredth of one percent) invested in companies that test non-pharmaceutical products on animals. The list includes only aggressive, growth or balanced funds that have at least 35% in equities. There are other animal cruelty free funds beyond these requirements - use the Fund Checker to be sure.
KiwiSaver Funds free from Animal Cruelty (based on March 2025 data)
Investment Funds free from Animal Cruelty (based on March 2025 data)
If you care about animal cruelty, write to your fund manager asking them to put in place a policy not to invest in companies that test products on animals, use factory farming or export live animals.
The above listing focuses on funds that are not invested in companies that practice animal cruelty, using Mindful Money’s analysis. The analysis does not include companies in sectors like real estate, mining and financial companies that are not directly relevant to animal cruelty, and funds focused on New Zealand or large Australian companies (since there are no listed companies in the NZX or S&P/ASX20).
Animal testing is a cruel and inhumane practice that results in the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of animals every year.
While New Zealand has banned animal testing for cosmetics, it is still common practice abroad. Many brands, including some of the world's most popular, still test their products on animals, and investigations show animals experiencing huge suffering as a result.
Listen to seminar below, where we talked through divesting from animal suffering with:
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