The Impact of Animal Testing in Cosmetic Products in Europe - Dissertation Example

The dissertation will take the following progression. The first is the literature review. Since the topic of animal testing falls under the rubric of corporate social responsibility, this is a topic that will be examined with much depth. Corporations’ motives for being socially responsible are very relevant to the discussion, and this would include not just responding to negative pressure but also attempting to put themselves in a good light. Since the focus of this study is the negative effects of studying animals and subjecting them to painful procedures, however, this will also be a focus of this particular section.

How other companies have been struck by PR headaches due to socially irresponsible practices, how they were punished for the same, and what solutions they created to redeem themselves are all going to be covered in this section. Also covered in this section will be an examination of consumer attitudes towards corporate social responsibility, as this is also a basis for the study at hand. An examination of “cause-related marketing,” which refers to marketing that emphasizes a corporation’s social responsibility will also be a part of the literature review, including the effectiveness of this type of marketing.

This issue is important, because it helps to illuminate consumer motivation, and, in doing so, might provide answers to the questions of how and why consumers react negatively to corporate irresponsibility, and whether this negative reaction may be mediated by good deeds and redemption.The next section of the literature review will deal with the specifics of animal testing and cosmetic companies. Included in this will be a brief explanation of animal rights, as the issue of animal testing definitely falls under this rubric, as well as a brief synopsis of some of the more controversial procedures.

A short examination of the European Union’s attempts to regulate the cosmetic industry’s use of animals will also be examined in this section. Also included will be an examination of the term “cruelty-free” and what this really means.  A rather important issue that is brought to life in this section is the actions of PETA, and how PETA helped bring the large cosmetic companies around to the understanding that they must stop testing on animals.