Many people follow a vegan food lifestyle to try to live in a more conscious, compassionate and ecologically friendly way. Numerous studies have proven that average vegan diets have a far lower ecological impact than those that include meat, fish, or other animal products.
However, the effect that we have on the ecosystem extends beyond what we put on our plates. Plastics have become an integral part of modern life, and in this article, we’ll take a look at the questions that arise with plastic use and vegan principles.
Plastic is an incredibly durable material, and this is why it is so widely used. 350 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually by the global plastics industry, with large amounts of this ending up in our waterways, destroying wildlife and habitat, and causing untold pollution for generations to come.
Let’s look at some of the crossovers between veganism and plastic use.
Key Takeaways
What Is Plastic & How Is Plastic Made?
Plastic is made from petrochemicals derived from crude oil and natural gas which are extracted from deep in the earth. The plastic produced is then refined into various parts which undergo chemical reactions to become organic polymers with the addition of certain additives, depending on the type of plastic products being made.
Plastic production relies heavily on the use of fossil fuels, which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Plastics account for 3.4% of global carbon emissions, which is expected to increase as production grows. However, plastic production is not the only culprit, as the use and disposal of plastic has a significantly large carbon footprint.
Veganism and Plastic Pollution: Why Plastic is Bad for Animals
Vegans are primarily concerned with not consuming animal products, or using animal life for any end.
Life has value in itself and consequently, living beings aren’t viewed as resources to be exploited. Vegans are concerned with living a more holistic lifestyle and tend to prefer products or produce with minimal packaging, or packaging that is biodegradable.
Aside from the additives that sometimes may be derived from animals, whether plastic is vegan is often not considered as its immediate production causes no harm to animals.
However, once discarded, the plastic more often than not ends up in a landfill or in the oceans, where it can wreak havoc on the environment for hundreds of years.
It’s been estimated that at the current rate of use, there’ll be more plastic by weight than fish in the seas by 2050.
Is Plastic Vegan? Non-Vegan Plastic Additives
Many conventional and biodegradable plastics have additives that are derived from animals.
One such additive is stearic acid, which is used as a stabilizer and or lubricant to reduce static and friction. Stearic acid comes from animal fats, although plant-based alternatives are also used. It is common in plastic bags.
Gelatin is often used in biodegradable plastics which itself comes from animal bones and collagen.
Animal Testing: Why Plastic Is Not Vegan Friendly
Many plastics and other synthetic materials are tested on animals, which is incompatible with vegan principles.
Many common household and personal care items may contain animal-derived ingredients or be tested on animals.
Be sure to look for vegan and cruelty-free products from trusted companies to ensure your choices align with your values.
Animal Testing
Microplastics and Plastic Waste
The main problem with fully synthetic plastic is that it doesn't fully break down, and so it disrupts the ecosystem for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Most plastic that's created, such as plastic bottles, food containers and food packaging, as well as other plastic items, will end up in the world's oceans. This is where it breaks down into smaller and smaller plastic particles, known as microplastics which can be ingested by sea-dwelling creatures.
Humans who ingest these animals are then themselves also ingesting these microplastics, which can wreak havoc on human health.
Being a new phenomenon, the long-term health effects of micro plastic waste generation are still unknown and not fully understood.
Microplastics and plastic debris are also found in drinking water and agricultural products, meaning almost no one is safe from the problem.
The Problem For Vegans
Whether you follow a vegan lifestyle for ethical, health or environmental reasons, plastic poses a problem. Plastics can destroy habitats, killing organisms throughout the food chain.
This has ethical, health and environmental implications, meaning whatever your main cause for concern, plastic use should be considered a vegan concern.
How Can I Remove Plastic from My Life: The Alternatives
Everybody knows the common phrase, 'reduce, reuse and recycle,' because plastic recycling is good advice! Plant-based alternatives to plastics, which are made from renewable materials, are constantly being developed.
Bio-plastic packaging, for instance, are made from renewable plant-based materials such as corn starch, cellulose and sugarcane, amongst other materials. This means that they are considered as vegan packaging. Consider using certified sustainable companies and only endorsing vegan and cruelty-free recycled plastics, made from vegan alternatives, wherever possible.
Whilst this may seem impossible and fanciful currently, it is not beyond reach with time. As ecological concerns are becoming more prevalent, the further use and development of compostable food wrappers will only increase.
Many vegans, especially those primarily with health concerns favor plant-based whole foods, which use less packaging and require less processing than alternatives. Buying at bulk stores can help reduce your plastic consumption. However, completely eliminating plastic use is virtually impossible nowadays unless you are fully food and self-sufficient. Doing your best is always good enough.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Veganism is intricately tied to ecological concerns, and the plastic crisis arising from global plastic production that we are currently witnessing is a worrying one. Plastics break down into smaller pieces known as microplastics which infiltrate water sources, soil and food sources.
This causes untold ecological chaos as well as being a health hazard. On top of this, many plastics can have non-vegan additives and are tested on animals, making them incompatible for those aiming to follow a vegan lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a popular synthetic leather made from manmade materials and fossil fuels. PVC is popularly used in vegan leather products such as handbags and clothing, as its quality resembles animal leather closely. However, while it is widely considered vegan, it is not environmentally friendly and sustainable. The PVC manufacturing process releases toxic chemical compounds into the environment. Moreover, PVC cannot be recycled and will hang around in landfills or oceans forever.
There are two types of plastics: plastics derived from natural sources or “biobased”; and plastics derived from synthetic sources. Synthetic plastics are manufactured from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. The vast majority of the plastics used today are synthetic as they are easier to manufacture using crude oil. However, due to limited oil reserves, there is an increased demand for plastics made from renewable resources such as plant-based materials, biomass, and animal-waste products. Some newer plastics are derived from cellulose and salt.
Unfortunately, no, plastic is not biodegradable. Plastic can break down into smaller pieces over time without human intervention, due to natural processes and environmental elements. However, this process can take thousands of years. Plastic will not decompose or revert to nature in the same way as wood or banana peels.
What about plastics categorized as biodegradable? You may find some plastics to be labelled as biodegradable. These types of plastics can wear down or degrade in certain conditions, such as industrial composting systems; however, they can still pose a problem and contribute to pollution when discarded in conventional landfills. This is because they do not degrade naturally in natural waste streams or open environments. Moreover, some plastics that are biodegradable only break down into smaller pieces or microplastics, which are not exactly biodegradable and pollute our oceans and environment.
Yes, some plastics are made from renewable, plant-based materials rather than fossil fuels. These types of plant-based plastics are made from plant-derived material such as corn, starch, sugar cane, tree pulp, seaweed, bamboo fiber and more. Plant-based plastics may also be made from agricultural waste or scraps.
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