The pet industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, fueled by pet parents eager to pamper their furry companions, as well as pet professionals, pet boarding, vets and clinics, grooming salons and vans want to give better services.
However, this boom has also given rise to misleading marketing practices, often at the expense of genuine quality and transparency. In this unregulated market, many brands use terms like “natural” and “hypoallergenic” loosely, cutting corners to keep their profit margins high. Here’s how you, as a pet parent or pet professional in the UAE, can spot and avoid greenwashing tactics while making more informed choices for your pets or customers' pets.
The Reality Behind “Natural” and “Hypoallergenic” Claims
Walking down the aisles of pet stores in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or browsing online shops across the UAE and worldwide, you’ll find countless pet grooming products labeled as “natural”, “hypoallergenic” or “organic”. But what do these words really mean? In an unregulated market, manufacturers can easily misuse these terms without meeting any specific standards. For example, a shampoo might include only a tiny amount of natural ingredients to claim it has "natural extracts," while most of the formula is made up of harsh or industrial-grade chemicals.
Lack of Ingredient Transparency and Hidden Formulas
Opaque packaging, incomplete ingredient lists, and vague descriptions are common in pet care products. Unlike human cosmetics, pet products are not legally required to display a full ingredient list. As a result, some brands hide behind terms like “cleaning agents” or “essential oils,” masking the presence of synthetic or potentially harmful substances.
This lack of transparency makes it difficult for pet parents and professionals to make informed choices. Products may claim to be “natural,” but without full disclosure, there is no way to verify their claims.
Third-Party Manufacturing and Low Standards
Many pet care brands are essentially marketing companies that outsource product development and manufacturing to third parties. These third-party manufacturers may not specialize and lack expertise in pet health, prioritizing cost savings over pet-specific formulations. The result? Lower-quality products that may not meet the physiological needs of your pets.
The pet care industry is still largely unregulated when it comes to these terms.
Tips for UAE Pet Parents and Groomers: How to Spot Greenwashing
In an industry flooded with misleading claims, it’s essential for pet parents and professionals to make informed choices. Here’s how:
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Look for Full Ingredient Lists (INCI): Seek out brands that disclose a complete list of ingredients, ideally using the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI). This transparency helps ensure you know exactly what you’re using on your pet. Don relay on the claims and labels on the front of the bottle.
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Be Wary of Vague Marketing Terms: Terms like “natural”, “hypoallergenic”, “organic”, should be supported by transparent ingredient lists, scientific evidence, or labels by the designated authorities authorities. Without this, such claims may be nothing more than marketing buzzwords.
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Check Product Origin and Manufacturer: Understanding where and how a product is made can offer insight into its quality. Look for brands that are open about their manufacturing process and location.
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Opt for Transparent Packaging: Brands that use transparent bottles allow you to see the product, ensuring it’s not hiding low-quality or inconsistent formulations.
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Verify Specialization: Choose brands that specialize in pet cosmetics rather than generic manufacturers looking to expand their portfolio of products and capitalize on the pet boom.
Yuup!’s Commitment to Quality and Transparency
At Yuup!, we pride ourselves on our dedication to transparency, quality, and pet wellness. Since 2011, we have been crafting exclusive formulations at our laboratories in Vicenza, Italy, adhering to human-cosmetic-grade standards. Here’s why Yuup! stands out in the UAE market and worldwide:
- In-House Formulation and Manufacturing: Unlike brands that rely on third parties, all Yuup! products are crafted in our Italian laboratories. This allows us to maintain complete control over quality and formulation.
- 100% Made in Italy: Our products reflect the highest standards in European professional grooming and home pet care.
- Complete Ingredient Transparency: Every Yuup! product features a full INCI ingredient list, a step we take voluntarily despite no legal obligation for pet products. We believe every pet parent deserves to know what’s inside their chosen product.
- Natural and Eco-Friendly Ingredients: Yuup! shampoos and grooming products use eco-friendly, natural ingredients without harsh chemicals like SLS, SLES, parabens, and phthalates.
- Transparent Packaging: Our transparent bottles let you see the exact filling level of each product, assuring consistent quality and value.
Why Yuup! is the Right Choice for UAE Pet Parents
We understand the unique challenges of the UAE environment—heat, dry conditions, harsh water and the need for quality pet grooming. Our products are designed to protect, hydrate, and care for your pets’ skin and coat while respecting the natural balance of their skin. And, our commitment to transparency means you can trust exactly what you’re using, every single wash.
Make the Right Choice for Your Pet
Yuup! is not just another pet care brand. We offer a promise of safety, quality, and true care for your pets with formulations designed to be gentle yet highly effective. With our human-cosmetic-grade standards, you can feel confident knowing that every wash is a step towards better pet health and happiness.
Until stricter regulations are established, greenwashing will remain a challenge in the pet care industry. Many products fail to disclose their full INCI ingredient lists, using misleading greenwashing terms to attract customers. At Yuup!, we believe this approach is both unethical and misleading. As the demand for eco-friendly and natural pet products continues to rise, some companies exaggerate their sustainability claims, prioritizing profits over genuine care for pets and the planet. Transitioning to truly sustainable and eco-friendly practices does come at a higher cost, but we firmly believe ethics should come first.
At Yuup!, we take our corporate responsibility seriously, crafting products that prioritize the health and well-being of pets, groomers, and the environment. By choosing transparent, authentic, and genuinely sustainable brands like Yuup!, pet parents and professionals can take a stand against greenwashing and drive meaningful change in the industry. Together, we can champion transparency, authenticity, and a higher standard of pet care.
Are you a groomer and pet professional? Ready to make the switch? Explore Yuup!’s premium human-grade pet care products in the UAE today and experience the difference transparency and quality make for the wellbeing of your customers' pet and for your hands' skin as well. Contact us to get to know our professional range and reserved pricing for groomers.
Want to know more about our green philosophy and why Yuup! stands out?
Contact us via the green chat bubble for a personalized consultation or shop now to discover our range of human-grade pet grooming solutions.
By choosing Yuup!, you’re investing in a brand that prioritizes pet wellness, transparency, and eco-friendly practices. Together, we will revolutionize the industry and raise the standards of pet care and move beyond the greenwashing prevalent in today’s market.