Many people think veganism means avoiding animal exploitation, such as eating animal foods and using products of animal origin, when In fact, it goes beyond this. At the heart of vegan thinking comes a desire for greater compassion for all beings.
Every choice we make has a consequence, and ethical vegans aim to make the most compassionate choice and do the least amount of damage amongst all the other alternatives.
To exist is to cause some kind of harm; this is inevitable, but the aim of making more vegan choices is to make the least harmful choices to the best of your ability. This extends beyond the vegan foods we ingest in our vegan diet but includes where we put our money, the products we buy and the industrial processes we support.
Key Takeaways
Vegan Plant Foods
The cornerstone of a healthy vegan diet are plant based foods, including fruits and vegetables. As dietary vegans we combine multiple plant based food sources to make a balanced vegan diet.
But healthy eating shouldn't stop at merely consuming fresh produce from the local grocery. We have a responsibility to ourselves and fellow vegans to learn about where our food comes from to ensure that it is truly healthy, not to mention ethical.
No matter if you are following a raw vegan diet or vegetarian and vegan diet, you need to do a bit of investigating to ensure you are consuming ethically made vegan foods.
Check the food labels of the product if it is certified vegan, USDA organic, or fair trade. Research the brand and check if they have sustainable sourcing practices or have an environmental commitment. Also pay attention to the ingredients list and avoid items that are sourced unethically or are animal derived.
Moreover, prioritize purchasing vegan food from local farmers markets or vegan grocery stores, as they support local economies, have a reduced carbon footprint, and curate a wide range of ethically produced vegan products.
Clothing and Household Items
Many clothes and other household items are often made from materials such as leather, down (made from feathers) silk, wool, fur and other animal-derived materials.
More compassionate choices include organic and sustainably grown cotton, hemp, linen or even recycled synthetic items.
Wherever possible, choosing second-hand items helps to repurpose and recycle existing materials and helps minimize the harm done by industrial practices. Whilst textiles such as nylon and polyester could be considered vegan, they are in fact made from plastic.
When these garments are washed, they end up releasing small particles known as microplastics. These microplastics inevitably end up in the seas, and other waterways, where they are mistaken for food and eaten by small sea dwelling creatures, causing destruction and harm to the ecosystem.
Toiletries And Self-Care Products
Many toiletries and personal care items include animal-derived products that can easily be avoided once you know what to look for.
Check for obvious ingredients such as dairy, bee-derived products, and eggs.
Less common and more cryptic things to look out for include gelatin, (boiled animal bones, skin and tissue) collagen (animal's connective tissue) keratin (horns, feathers and wool of animals.)
Lanolin (from sheep's wool) is often included in lip balm and moisturizers. Casein is a milk protein that is utilized in moisturizers and hair products.
Carmine (AKA cochineal) comes from crushed insects and is used as a red dye in lipsticks and other makeup products.
Stearic acids and Glycerol (glycerin) can be found in soaps and cosmetics and come from animal fats, although there are plant-based alternatives available nowadays.
Musk comes from musk deer and can be found in perfumes. Ambergris is also used in cosmetics and perfumes and is obtained from the digestive system of sperm whales.
How To Avoid Non-Vegan Cosmetics and Toiletries?
Read labels and familiarize yourself with some of the most common animal-derived ingredients and additives. Choose brands that are accredited or certified as vegan and cruelty-free which ensures the absence of animal-derived ingredients and animal testing.
Opt for brands that prioritize or only produce vegan and cruelty-free products. Another option is to make your own!
Difference Between Vegan and Cruelty-Free
Vegan and cruelty-free mean different things. ‘Cruelty-Free’ products mean those which are not tested on animals. They can still contain animal-derived products in them, including milk-based products and honey. Vegan products contain no animal products or secretions.
Where You Put Your Money Matters
Companies may make food or other items and list them as vegan, but may still be responsible ecological destruction.
For example, companies might list products as vegan but still use ingredients such as palm oil whose production has a great environmental impact.
Its unsustainable production lead to greenhouse gas emissions, and can kill animal sanctuaries, including countless amounts of flora and fauna, even destroying whole ecosystems, driving species towards extinction, and yet still be listed as vegan.
Aim to support companies that offer transparency on their ecological and cruelty-free credentials, and avoid those who simply greenwash their products to appease the guilty conscience of unconscious consumers.
Household Cleaning Products
Avoid harsh chemicals when looking to buy cleaning products for your home. Many floor polishers and may contain animals fats. Common household items may also be tested on animals. Choose ecological cleaning products, or if unavailable consider making your own.
Sports, Leisure and Entertainment
Many large corporations, directly or indirectly, support or sponsor sports and leisure activities that exploit animals. If you’re aiming to follow a vegan lifestyle reconsider attending zoos, circus, marine parks or any sporting events that exploit animals.
Taking it a step further, consider avoiding/boycotting companies that advertise at these events.
Key Takeaways for Making More Compassionate Choices
Veganism is about much more than dietary choices. Your choice matters, and what you choose on a daily basis extends much beyond merely what you eat.
By making more mindful and informed choices, we can spread our sphere of compassion to all sentient beings. Many everyday items such toiletries, self care products, and cleaning items, contain animal products or are tested on animals.
Where you put your money matters, so think twice before you support companies that support the exploitation of animals for their own monetary gains.
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