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Veganism and Plastic – A Closer Look at the Issue

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

Veganism promotes holistic living and often emphasizes minimal packaging and biodegradable options.
Plastics, even biodegradable ones, can contain non-vegan additives and often contribute to long-term environmental damage
Microplastics infiltrate ecosystems and pose significant ethical, health, and environmental concerns for vegans.

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

Is PVC vegan?

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.

Where does plastic come from?

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.

Is plastic biodegradable?

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.

Is plastic plant-based?

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.

Does plastic contain animal products?

Generally speaking, most plastics are free of animal products. However, as we've mentioned earlier, some plastic additives contain animal derived products. Slipping agents, such as stearic acid, are made from animal fats and are used in commercial shopping bags to reduce static and friction in the material. This means that plastic is not exactly cruelty-free.

Sustainability, Activism, Clothing, Guides, Nutrition

Veganism Beyond the Plate. Making More Compassionate Choices

when i first came to veganism, i thought about the health benefits of going vegan

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 foods: Research the parent company of the vegan food manufacturer or business to ensure they follow ethical and sustainable sourcing practices and production.
Clothing and Household Items: Opt for plant-based and recycled materials; avoid leather, wool, and other animal-derived products.
Toiletries and Self-Care Products: Check labels for animal-derived ingredients; choose certified vegan and cruelty-free brands.
Mindful Spending: Support transparent, ethical companies; avoid brands that greenwash their products.

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 people think veganism means avoiding eating dead animals and their secretions, when in fact, it goes beyond this, full length of happy multicultural friends in tren utc scaled

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.)

many toiletries and personal care items include animal-derived products that can easily be avoided once you know what to look for, lovely overjoyed woman in domestic wear has dark h utc scaled

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.

many people think veganism means avoiding eating dead animals and their secretions, when in fact, it goes beyond this, couple dating relaxation love theme park concept utc scaled

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.

Be sure to like, comment and share with anyone who may be interested!

Guides, Clothing

Vegan Fashion

Vegan Blog > Guides > Sustainable Vegan Clothing > Vegan Fashion

Let's help you meet style with sustainability for a truly earth-friendly wardrobe.

Here, we explore clothing and accessory choices that align with a compassionate, vegan lifestyle—spotlighting innovative materials, ethical brands, and timeless pieces that help reduce your fashion footprint.

The Ultimate Vegan
Battle-Plan

Download your Ultimate Vegan Battle-Plan and shut those haters up for good!

From the latest in cruelty-free fashion trends to tips on building a versatile, eco-conscious closet, this category is all about dressing in a way that’s kind to animals and the planet.

Discover how chic, sustainable, and vegan can go hand in hand for a style that truly reflects your values.

Clothing, Guides

Plant-Based Fabrics & Vegan Materials

Vegan Blog > Guides > Sustainable Vegan Clothing > Plant-Based Fabrics & Vegan Materials

Let's learn about sustainable, cruelty-free textiles. Here, we dive into the fabrics and materials that make vegan clothing ethical and eco-friendly—from bamboo and organic cotton to innovative plant-based leathers.

We break down the production processes, environmental impact, and durability of each material, helping you make informed choices for a wardrobe that respects both animals and the planet.

The Ultimate Vegan
Battle-Plan

Download your Ultimate Vegan Battle-Plan and shut those haters up for good!

Whether you’re curious about the latest sustainable trends or building a conscious closet, Leafy Souls offers insights for dressing with purpose.

Clothing, Fashion, Guides

Staying Vegan and Why Some People Fail

Going vegan is a difficult choice. Whether you are trying to avoid animal food products or clothes, society does not make it easy for you to stay away from what attempting vegans see as a different way of living.

It is true that veganism is growing, and that the market is changing to provide a service to veganism, yet still - it is hard!

Key Takeaways

Social pressures, cravings, and limited vegan options in certain regions are common challenges that lead some to abandon veganism.
Having a solid meal plan and exploring vegan alternatives for favorite non-vegan foods can help with consistency.
Facing non-vegan environments while traveling or dining with others requires resilience and planning.

Fashion Matters

A lot of people say that you shouldn’t let money come between you and your choices.

And it is true.

However, for people who are used to buying cool, cheap clothes with a 50 dollar budget will find themselves pretty stuck when there is a lack of stylish choice in retail stores.

A lot of vegan fashion is hippy-chic or boho and this doesn’t always fit the bill.

Quality First

When you spend a certain amount of money, you would like to think that you have invested in a good purchase. Suddenly, after a few months - your bag starts to deteriorate or your shoe straps snap off.

This is the worst feeling.

You have lost both your piece of clothing and the money you spent. Materials such as leather are durable and last a lifetime.

Not to worry though, the best designers are researching and testing how to make vegan leather as good as the real thing.

Temptation Wins

Sometimes your body just craves meat or dairy. You walk into a restaurant and smell a roast chicken or a steak being grilled.

If you were a fan of meat before, this is one of the most difficult situations to be in.

Have a look at the vegan dishes that the restaurant provides and think of how tasty they will be and how much more you prefer seeing an animal alive than on your plate.

Your Body Needs It

It has been reported that some people need dairy to help line their stomachs. Doctors have even advised vegans to introduce dairy into their diets again.

But for those people with IBS, or a really bad hangover - try out slipper elm. Slippery elm is a gut-healing, potentially cancer-fighting superstar.

Taken from the inner bark of an elm tree, this component has been used for centuries by North American Indians and not many people know about it.

Peer Pressure

It is true that your friends do not have to change their ways just for you, but a little support goes a long way.

Next time you go out to dinner with friends who are ordering plates of meat and dairy, just do your best to stick to your values.

It is really hard to say no when you are surrounded by dishes that everyone is enjoying, but remember - if you stay to vegan dishes, you will feel much better in a few hours!

Waste Not

Some people prefer to say yes to food that has been given to me. It could be considered rude to say no, and food waste is also a priority for most - especially if you are hungry.

Saying no to someone giving you a non-vegan meal is possible, but a lot of people prefer to eat and be grateful for what has been given to them in a world where so many people are not as fortunate.

a vegan browsing a variety of supplement bottles on a crowded store shelf.

Lack of Choice

A lot of cultures still cook with meat and dairy - and very little else. When travelling for a long time, it can be really hard to keep your rhythm going.

You do not know the language ( so sometimes you do not know what you are ordering) and you are already having a hard time finding food that you like in this new world.

Instead of starving, suffering or letting your body go through the whirlwind of getting used to international food (travelers, you know what I mean), people feel the need to take a break from veganism and just adjust to their surroundings.

If you do end up losing your steady path of veganism, the important thing is not to feel bad. A lot of us were born into a culture where eating meat and dairy is the norm.

When parents would bring their children to a farm to show them where their food comes from. Nowadays, this doesn’t happen anymore because nice farms rarely exist.

Just do your best to stay true to your beliefs. We are all trying and are with you!

Clothing, Fabrics & Materials, Guides

Organic Hemp: Vegan Fabrics

Though many people associated hemp only with marijuana, the fact is that this versatile plant has been used to produce textiles for centuries.

According to some figures floating around on hemp-related Web sites, hemp was used in up to 80 percent of all clothing until about 100 years ago.

Though it's not clear where that percentage originated, or how accurate the number is, clothes made from hemp have indeed been around for some time.

Key Takeaways

Hemp is a durable, breathable, and eco-friendly fabric, known for its antibacterial qualities and natural insulation.
As a highly sustainable crop, hemp requires minimal water, no pesticides, and even helps enrich soil and remove toxins.
Organic hemp's low environmental impact and versatility make it ideal for ethical, vegan-friendly fashion.

Far from the scratchy, itchy, rough textile that many associate with hemp, these fibers create a very soft and comfortable substrate - either alone or in a blend with another textile.

A Brief History of Hemp

Hemp is possibly one of the earliest cultivated crops in the history of humankind.

It came under fire in the United States in 1937, when it was all but made illegal by the Marijuana Tax Act.

The tax was briefly lifted during World War II, to allow the U.S. Navy to use hemp to produce rope.

Following the war, the tax act retook effect. Hemp's popularity slid, reaching a low point in the 70s when it was formally banned under the Controlled Substances Act.

It wasn't until 2018 that commercial hemp farming was re-legalized. However, it didn't prevent the United States from extensively using hemp during World War II to produce uniforms, canvasses, and ropes.

Properties of Hemp

Hemp has several features that make it an excellent plant-based fiber. Hemp fabrics possess naturally antibacterial qualities and are resistant to mold and moths.

Hemp fiber's general resistance to rot is the reason that it was so popular in sailing - up, until the late 1800s, most sails, rigging, nets, and marine ropes were made of hemp.

Unsurprisingly, it's one of the most durable fibers in the world.

Hemp also can keep the body cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Organic hemp clothing has a place in your wardrobe because it is a completely natural fiber and breathable too!

Organic Hemp is an Ecological Marvel

When it comes to sustainability, hemp is second to none.

It's the perfect candidate for organic farming because it is so easy to grow.

Hemp requires very little water, no pesticides or fertilizers to thrive.

It sheds leaves throughout its life span, which creates a self-sustaining mulch.

Hemp's roots are very long and exceptionally strong. They protect the soil against erosion.

The roots biodegrade once the crop as harvested, filling the earth with valuable nutrients that enrich it for future plants.

And if that weren't enough, hemp also actually cleans the soil by ridding it of heavy metals. Hemp is also a very efficient crop - you can grow twice as much hemp as cotton on the same amount of land.

Hemp is a rare type of vegetation that is a carbon-negative material, as its growth removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In terms of ethical fashion and plant-based fabrics, hemp is becoming more and more successful as a game-changer in the textile industry.

Have we convinced you to try organic hemp fabric clothing yet? This material is worth checking out.

Other Vegan Fabrics

Of course, hemp isn't the only plant-based fabric available for ethics-conscious fashion consumers of clothing.

There are many other ethical vegan fabrics available in fashion besides hemp fabric, including:

Cupro (Rayon)

You may not have heard of Cupro, but it's one of the most sustainable vegan fabrics that is also used in high fashion.

Cupro, which is short for "cuprammonium rayon," has only recently become more prevalent in fashion. The fiber is made from regenerated cellulose fibers of cotton.

Basically, it's made from recycled cotton clothing that is turned into new fabric and then sewn into brand new clothing.

Talk about ethical fashion!

Cupro is made by one Japanese manufacturer, and resembles silk in its drape and sheen - but is 100 percent animal-friendly and eco-friendly.

Linen

Like hemp and cotton, linen is derived from a plant - the flax plant, to be specific. Linen material has a long and storied history in the world of natural vegan fabrics.

It is an excellent choice for hot, humid climates. European and Japanese linens tend to be of the highest quality.

Beware of Chinese linen, however, which does use conventional fertilizers.

Organic Cotton

You may have heard that conventional cotton requires a lot of water to grow. But what you may not know is that organic cotton has always had a much smaller carbon footprint.

Breathable and earth-friendly, organic cotton clothing is one of the best plant-based fabrics you can wear - as long as the people making it do not use pesticides or too much water.

Soy

It's not just for edamame and tofu anymore. Soy also makes a wonderful garment fabric that is often used as a substitute for silk, which is not a sustainable vegan fabric.

Not only does soy produce an ethical fabric, but it's biodegradable so you can compost that shirt when you don't want it anymore, guilt-free.

There is one downside of soy, however, which is that formaldehyde is used to make it.

Cordurory

Corduroy is making a huge comeback in many fashion circles. It is strong, durable, and 100% vegan! We love how inexpensive and versatile this material is, not to mention its unique aesthetic appeal for vegan fashion.

If you see corduroy on the rack, be sure to check it out, just make sure all the other materials are vegan as well.

Lyocell

Lyocell is made of wood pulp. Astonishingly, it is biodegradable in just eight days and can be recycled.

It's the ultimate sustainable material and is also as elegant to wear as it is natural. Lyocell fabric is drapey and catches the light rather like silk.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a sweetheart of material, both at home and abroad. It regenerates from its own roots and does not use more than its share of water.

Like hemp, bamboo has long been claimed to have antibacterial properties. However, it's not readily apparent how much antibacterial strength remains after the plant has been processed into fabric.

Things made of bamboo are lovely to wear, though. You can even rock your bamboo t-shirt with some bamboo jewelry.

Recycled PU & PVC Faux Leather

There are many vegan leathers on the market today. Still, the most common ones, PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) aren't precisely sustainable or eco-friendly.

Thankfully, these are not the only vegan products available to the fashion-forward gal looking to shop for new bags.

There is a veritable horde of plant-based leather used for making bags these days, many of which are biodegradable!

Banana Leather

Did you know that bananas do not grow on trees? They are the world's largest perennial herb, known as the banana plant.

The plants provide only one crop of bananas each, but people have found that the plant fibers make a fine leather for bags and other applications.

Apple Leather

The Apple Girl turns apple pulp waste into 100 percent biodegradable, natural leather material.

Pineapple Leather

A company called Ananas Amam makes a plant-based leather from discarded pineapple tops.

The finished products are used in interior design and car interiors as well as for clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Grape Leather

Bentley used a vegan grape leather in the interior of its 2019 electric concept car.

Coffee Leather

A German company, nat-s, has developed vegan leather shoes made from coffee. According to the company, these shoes do smell like coffee, but that sounds great to us!

Mushroom Leather

Amadou Leather is made from fungi grown on sawdust blocks. The company claims that the end product absorbs moisture and is breathable and antimicrobial.

MuSkin vegan leather comes from the Phellinus ellipsoideus, a giant parasitic tree fungus. (Warning: Don't look it up if you're easily grossed out.)

Cork Leather

Cork is one of the more popular sustainable plant-based leather options on this list. It's naturally water-resistant.

And, well, yes, some of the time, cork pieces do look like a wine bottle stopper. For our comprehensive guide on plant-based leathers, see this post.

Faux Leather Type	Sustainable	Biodegradable	Water Resistant	Vegan	Leafy Souls Score
PVC
Micronappa / Microsuede
Vegetable Polyurethane (PU)
Recycled plastic
Pineapple leather (Piñatex)
Apple leather
Cactus leather
Grape leather
MulbTex Paper Pulp
Cork leather
Mirum

Final Thoughts

Didn't realize that there was so much variety in the world of plant-based materials for fashion?

As you can plainly see, there is no shortage of vegan fabrics for you to check out the next time you shop.

I daresay that there are far more vegan fabrics than non-vegan fabrics. From plant-based leathers to stretchy knit fabrics and traditionally woven like linen and hemp, the possibilities are endless.

Thanks to increased interest in sustainable products, fashion producers well know that there are more plant-based textiles to use than ever before - to make beautiful items to wear.

Clothing, Fabrics & Materials, Guides

Organic Cotton: Vegan Fabrics

It is "the fabric of our lives," right? Your t-shirt is made of it. Your jeans are made of it. Your canvas sneakers, backpack, and anorak jacket are made of it.

Cotton is beloved for its breathability and comfort. If you are looking for versatile materials that can be used to create a wide variety of garments and accessories, it's usually one of the most popular options.

Among other sustainable vegan substrates, only linen can compete as far as history and longevity go. Organic crops are produced and certified to organic agricultural standards.

Key Takeaways

Organic cotton is a vegan, eco-friendly choice, conserving water and avoiding harmful pesticides compared to conventional cotton.
It promotes better livelihoods for farmers by avoiding toxic exposure and supporting soil health through crop rotation.
Vegan fashion options extend to various sustainable materials, like hemp, bamboo, and even fruit leathers, providing versatile alternatives.

Organic farming protects soil health, the ecosystem, animals, and people by using natural processes rather than manufactured products that make things easier or save time (I'm looking at you, Roundup!).

Organic farmers do not use harmful toxic chemicals or genetically modified seeds. Instead, they use practices that have been around since the beginning of the history of agriculture as well as new, innovative technologies that do not hurt the environment or our food supply.

Without this type of farming, it would be challenging to live a sustainable vegan lifestyle in our time.

Organic Cotton Reduces Our Environmental Footprint

Organic cotton limits damage to the soil has less impact on the air, and uses 71 percent less water and 62 percent less energy.

In comparison, the standard version uses about 16 percent of the world's insecticides and 7 percent of pesticides and is a much less sustainable fashion material.

Organic Cotton Promotes Safe Work & Better Livelihoods

Growing organic is also much safer for farmers and their families.

Conventional farmers are regularly exposed to harmful chemicals that leach into the soil and water in the process of pesticide application.

This is not a problem for organic farmers. They are not exposed to toxic substances in the field or through their food supply.

In organic farming, farmers rely on natural methods to regenerate the nutrients in their soils, often employing the process of crop rotation. Farmers who rotate crops will typically grow multiple plants, thereby diversifying their income and making it more immune to profit fluctuations. Rotating organic cotton and hemp, for example, keeps the soil full of nutrients for each new sowing season.

Organic Cotton Promotes Fair Prices for Sustainability

Organic seeds are more expensive than regular seeds.

Farming organically can be back-breaking work. Sustainable organic farmers need to weed by hand since they do not rely on pesticides to kill plant-choking weeds.

When you buy organic, you are investing in water conservation, cleaner air, better soil, and farmer livelihoods.

The price for organic cotton is, therefore, sometimes, but not always, higher. However, with demand on the rise, more choices will become available.

Soon we will have more biodegradable options for our fashion materials.

Non-Organic Cotton Impacts our Food System

Cottonseed oil is used in a variety of food products such as cookies, chips and vegetable oil, and is also fed to livestock.

If this seed oil is made from non-organic seeds, it is carrying with it all the pesticides and chemicals that are employed in the farming of the conventional crop. Is cotton vegan?

Of course. But we certainly don't want to eat it. Nevertheless, this byproduct makes its way into our diets.

Organic Cotton is the Model for the Future

By 2025, two-thirds of the world's population may face water shortages, but organic cotton gets 80 percent of its hydration from rain.

The use of rain to hydrate plants is all the more critical for this thirsty crop.

According to a Worldwatch report, it takes 2,700 liters of H2O to make a cotton t-shirt.

The absence of chemicals in organic farming also means that it does not contribute to the degradation of the water supply. According to organic-center.org, 40% of surveyed farmers found an increase in beneficial organisms on their farms since adopting organic practices.

You Can Make a Difference

Caring for the world and the people we share it with is a life choice.

Choosing organic anything is part of this choice.

In 2015, 26 million metric tons of cotton were produced globally, much of it for the apparel industry.

Less than 1 percent of this production was organic.

But if more of us choose organic vegan fabrics over conventional fabrics, maybe one day, we will have the purchasing power necessary to influence brands, manufacturers, and even farmers.

Let's change this number for more sustainable fashion industry.

Other Vegan Fabrics

Of course, there are other options for those who would love to fill their closets with sustainable vegan fabrics to wear. We've already discussed linen. Read on for more alternatives.

Cupro (Rayon)

Cupro, whose long name is "cuprammonium rayon," is just becoming common on clothing labels, but it's been around for more than a century.

It is made out of cotton regenerated cellulose fiber. It's a sustainable, eco-friendly textile that has been made from another eco-friendly textile that was recycled and regenerated.

With its good genes, Cupro is blessed with many of our favorite properties of organic cotton, particularly absorbency and breathability.

Where Cupro shines is in its luster (no really, it shines!), wrinkle resistance, and ability to absorb dyes for deep color.

Cupro is just a lovely fabric to wear - it resembles silk and is often used to replace silk in high-end garments.

There is only one Japanese manufacturer in the entire world making and selling Cupro (mostly in the shape of high-end dresses and shirts).

Cupro is one of those vegan materials able to replace silk in the long run sustainably. Its environmental impact is low, as it is a byproduct of the cellulose, it's made from.

Corduroy

Did you know that corduroy is a vegan fabric woven from cotton and fibers? Corduroy's durable structure and iconic aesthetic make it one of the major staples in clothing material choices. The best part about it is that it's completely 100% vegan.

Soy

Did you know the byproducts from your tofu could have been reused to create a soy silk blouse? It's true - soy is another plant that is used to make synthetic silk substitutes.

In addition to being fashion-forward, soy-silk garments are biodegradable when you no longer require them.

One downside, however, is the fact that formaldehyde is often used in its processing, but it still deserves mention in a roundup of vegan fabrics.

Lyocell

Lyocell is another option. Lyocell is made of wood pulp; this material is biodegradable in just eight days and can be recycled to create other products.

It's the ultimate in sustainable materials. It is also elegant to wear. With a fluid, silk-like drape, lyocell is a vegan alternative to silk, which is not a vegan fabric.

It makes gorgeous blouses and dresses that skim the body and is an excellent option for people who love to dress up.

You may also have heard of Tencel, which is a brand of lyocell manufactured by the Austrian company Lenzing AG.

Tencel is often found blended with linen to make a substrate that combines linen's rustic character with Tencel's luxurious drape.

It's the best of both worlds. Who knew wood pulp could be turned into a stylish dress?

Bamboo

Bamboo, which regenerates from its roots and can be grown with less watering than other crops, has long been an environmental darling.

Many people love bamboo rayon for its silky-soft feel (the plant is also used to make a sort of rough linen that is much less popular), and bamboo has long been claimed to have antibacterial properties.

However, it's not clear how much of this is retained after processing. Unfortunately, for now, bamboo fibers undergo processing using chemicals that are not reusable.

While this is a stumbling block, bamboo is still a vegan fabric and needs to be included in this list.

Pineapple & other Fruit Leathers

Yes, you read that right. You can now buy a leather jacket made from pineapples. This is a relative newcomer to the textile scene, but even chain retailers like H&M are carrying clothing made from pineapple leather, which is branded under the name Pinatex.

Hemp

With the loosening of regulations in the cannabis industry in the United States, hemp has had a resurgence in popularity for materials.

Hemp is unique as a fabric because it has such durable fibers in the material.

Not only is it functional, but it makes a sustainable fashion statement as well. You can read more about organic hemp as a vegan fabric in our blog.

Faux Leather Type	Sustainable	Biodegradable	Water Resistant	Vegan	Leafy Souls Score
PVC
Micronappa / Microsuede
Vegetable Polyurethane (PU)
Recycled plastic
Pineapple leather (Piñatex)
Apple leather
Cactus leather
Grape leather
MulbTex Paper Pulp
Cork leather
Mirum

As you can see, there is a wide variety of vegan fabrics for you to fall in love with. In fact, there are far more vegan fabrics out there than non-vegan fabrics.

Are there any on this list that piques your interest? Did we leave any out? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section.

Clothing, Fashion, Guides

Do Anti-Theft Bags Actually Prevent Theft

You’ve saved up your money, you have saved up your holiday time and now you can get ready for that trip you have been planning over the last while.

Asia, the Americas, Australia, Europe or Africa - each has its own unique environment and culture filled with activities for any traveler to explore.

The adrenaline and excitement people get from traveling are one of a kind. And it can all be interrupted if you don’t have the right types of handbags and backpacks for travel.

Key Takeaways

Anti-theft bags with secure zippers, metal reinforcements, and RFID-blocking materials can deter both physical and digital theft.
Compact, front-load designs and crossbody styles enhance safety by keeping items close and less accessible to thieves.
Features like eXomesh and locking mechanisms make these bags harder to slash or open quickly, ideal for travel security.

Thieves are in every country and in every city. Travelers are an easy target with their belongings constantly at reach for days on end, even months.

But there are ways to protect yourself.

Make sure to prepare for a stress-free journey by investing in an anti-theft bag.

you’ve saved up your money, you have saved up your holiday time and now you can get ready for that trip you have been planning over the last while, how thieves pull it off

How Thieves Pull it Off

Before we start to dive into the different features to look out for when buying an anti-theft bag, let’s go over the different, ingenious ways thieves operate. Theft can happen without you even noticing.

They can take a knife and slash your bag open and they can cut a strap so quickly you do not have time to react. They can take a blunt instrument and pry open a locked zipper and they can pickpocket in a matter of seconds by bumping into you and distracting you.

Keeping Your Valuables Secure: Private and Compact

It is best to have a bag that is even on all sides making it easier to carry and divide the load. This avoids bulky areas at the top and at the bottom.

Front-load backpacks enable the traveler to open their bag and find a particular item without having to open from the top and show everybody what's inside as you dig everything out.

This makes them the perfect bags for travelers who constantly need to get something like a camera, or a book. If you get the right size, you can buy an even front load bag that can easily fit under the seat on the plane.

Zippers and Metal Locking

Anti-theft bags have zippers that lock into place and that require pressure to open them again.

The added difficulty in opening them makes you less of a target for theft.

The zippers are also designed in a way that makes penetration from blunt tools difficult.

Some bags even have eXomesh, a term used to show that metal is running through the bag.

This means that thieves cannot slash the bag open.

You can even have a steel lock on the bag so that you can attach it to a metal bar on a train or bus.

You best bet is to keep it safe and locked somewhere in your room that doesn’t have a locker.

You can go even further and invest in a wire mesh that wraps around your bag and locks to a place you have chosen to keep it.

The wire mesh makes it almost impossible for thieves to cut through unless they have the right tools. Handy if you are sleeping in a hostel or where people can easily access your things while you sleep.

Protect Your Data

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for everybody. Thieves can come close to you, use a scanner and retrieve any important data from credit cards or your phone making it easy for them to hack into your accounts and take your money or assets.

Many of the anti-theft bags come with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) blocking material. It prevents thieves from getting sensitive information.

This protects you from both types of theft: physical and technological.

you’ve saved up your money, you have saved up your holiday time and now you can get ready for that trip you have been planning over the last while, shoulder bags doris vegan womens crossbody handbag

Crossbody Bags

Leave the backpack behind you at the hotel or hostel and bring what is necessary for a day out. Crossbody bags are perfect to take with you while roaming around the city.

It hangs close to you where you can see it at all times and can easily reach whatever you need. This is perfect for when you need to use public transport or to get out of your wallet easily and pay your museum tickets.

It has all the same bits and bob listed as features of anti-theft bags including eXomesh, thick straps that cannot be cut and zippers that lock. Just remember to close the bag with the zipper! Even if you have the most secure handbag or backpack, it can be easy to forget to close your bag properly.

In most cases, petty theft is reserved for the easiest target. Investing the time and money to make yourself less noticeable or less attractive to a thief can save you lots of time, money and stress. Definitely worth it - that gives you more time to worry about which attraction you will go next.

Clothing, Fabrics & Materials, Guides

What Clothing Materials are Vegan

As a vegan, it’s important to be aware of the types of vegan and cruelty-free materials that are available out there. This makes it easier for you to make informed purchasing choices that are kind to the environment and to the animals.

Here are some of the many vegan and cruelty-free materials that you can choose from.

Key Takeaways

Vegan clothing materials include options like organic cotton, linen, bamboo, and innovative plant-based leathers like pineapple and cork.
Sustainable alternatives such as recycled plastic (rPET) help reduce waste and avoid animal-derived materials.
Vegan materials support environmental health, with fabrics like hemp, bamboo, and cork being particularly eco-friendly.

Linen

Linen is quite a unique material that’s known for getting softer the more you wash and wear it. It’s also non-allergenic which makes it ideal for people with sensitive skin. Linen is most often utilized to make summer clothing because it’s light and breathable.

Overall linen is a high-quality fabric that’s biodegradable, recyclable and requires very little fertilization during the growing stage.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is a cruelty-free material that’s actually beneficial to the soil. It promotes healthy ecosystems and it doesn’t need a lot of water to thrive.

When you put on a clothing item that’s made from organic cotton, one of the things you’ll notice is the velvety soft feel of this fabric against the skin. It also dries very quickly after washing, making it very low maintenance and easy to clean.

Wood

Lyocell is a type of material that doesn’t wrinkle and is made of wood using sustainable methods. Lyocell is also biodegradable, it drapes well and feels soft to the touch.

Bamboo is a sustainable woody material that can be woven into fabrics as well.

Seaweed

Yep, you saw right. You can actually turn seaweed into a clothing material and it's quite beneficial for the skin. Evidence suggests that wearing clothes made from seaweed material can re-mineralize skin, detoxify the body and even regenerate the cells.

We don’t know if any of that is true but we can tell you that it’s a very comfortable material to wear. You see, seaweed adapts to the temperature to keep you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.

The manufacturing process starts with drying the seaweed so that it can be coarsely ground and combined with plant-based cellulose fiber. Afterward ,manufacturers use it to create a wide variety of different usable materials.

Vegan Leathers

Pineapple leather is a recent introduction to the textile manufacturing industry. Manufacturers introduced it into the market after seeing the toxic effects of PVC.

Unlike PVC, pineapple leather is biodegradable, 'green' and constructed from leftover pineapple leaves.

Other interesting leather alternatives to look out for include kombucha leather and cork leather. Both of these options are growing in popularity and are primarily utilized to make high-quality vegan fashion handbags and shoes.

Hemp

Hemp is an organic plant that's easy to cultivate. Farmers don't have to use chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Growing it is also beneficial to the soil because its roots grow deep, thus preventing runoff and preserving topsoil structure.

Hemp clothing has a very similar look and feel to linen because it’s breathable, hypoallergenic and wearing it won’t irritate your skin at all.

Corduroy

Corduroy is a ridged velvety fabric that has distinct parallel "cords" made by weaving cotton with fibers to form vertical ridges (aka wales).

Corduroy is soft and durable, and usually consists of a mixture of cotton and rayon or polyester. If you are looking for a durable, yet fashionable vegan-friendly material, you can't go wrong with choosing corduroy.

Cork

Cork is a 100% natural vegan material. It is low maintenance and has leather-like properties in that is is stain resistant, water repellent and scratch-proof.

Cork is made from cork oak bark that is harvested, but the fascinating thing about this process is that it doesn't hurt the tree! Cork contains a naturally occurring waxy substance (suberin) which gives the material longevity.

We love how sustainable this option is over other faux leathers and recommend it whole-heartedly as a vegan material option.

rPET (Recycled Plastic)

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing modern humanity today. As such, it’s very important that we as consumers try to eliminate its use and recycle whenever possible.

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate or rPET for short, refers to the polyester material that’s made from recycled water bottles.

Faux Leather Type	Sustainable	Biodegradable	Water Resistant	Vegan	Leafy Souls Score
PVC
Micronappa / Microsuede
Vegetable Polyurethane (PU)
Recycled plastic
Pineapple leather (Piñatex)
Apple leather
Cactus leather
Grape leather
MulbTex Paper Pulp
Cork leather
Mirum

The vegan materials on this list are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s available out there. The best part is that they’re good for the environment and usually cost less than cruel materials like leather and wool.

Now that you know which materials to look out for, go out and get yourself some stylish fashion that’s cruelty-free and vegan.

Clothing, DIY, Guides, Sustainability

What To Do with Your Non-Vegan Clothes

Going vegan and looking at your wardrobe is frustrating. All you see is death, pollution, confusion, and hypocrisy. You want to be an ambassador to the movement, but you also don’t want to throw away that expensive coat, made from durable materials and perfect for keeping you warm during the cold winters.

Key Takeaways

Avoid waste by donating or reusing non-vegan items rather than discarding them.
Repurpose or sell non-vegan clothes to align future purchases with vegan values.
Choose what feels right, balancing practicality and ethical ideals for your wardrobe.

Waste Not

First and foremost - do not waste your clothes if you already have them. Veganism and conscious consumerism go hand in hand together although not exactly the same. In general, we as a human population need to consume less.

Instead, give your clothes to someone in need instead of throwing them away. If you do not keep your clothes or donate them to a charity, they will just end up in a landfill where they will pollute. The world definitely does not need that.

Invest in the Future

For those of you who are vegan and have non-vegan clothing in your wardrobe, you should not feel bad about owning them. It is what you do next that matters. Who cares what people think?

The important thing is to invest new money into a business that adheres to your morals and values. Investigate how a company you are interested in produces its products and check whether or not a company's products and methods are vegan.

The more you invest in these companies, the more you will help change the world.

It can be hard to throw away a good leather handbag or pair of shoes. The fabric is good and the products made from leather last a lifetime. Not to mention that they are biodegradable.

If you are 100% sure that you want to throw them away because you are afraid of people calling you a hypocrite, then make sure you find it a good new home and that the animal’s life was not completely wasted. Better to have someone appreciate the sacrifice than throwing it in the bin.

Tips to Get Rid of Non-Vegan Items

If you end up wanting to get rid of your non-vegan items, there are a few things you can do:

Have a Yard Sale

Yard sales are a great way to quickly get rid of non-vegan items like furniture, clothing and even jewelry. It’s also nice to have some money left over afterwards that you can use to buy some new awesome vegan stuff.

Sell Online

Websites like eBay, Amazon and Craigslist and social media pages are great ways to turn your old, gross non-vegan stuff into cash, but they need a bit of setting up. You might need to set up a PayPal account if you don’t already have one.

Take it to a Pawn Shop

You definitely won’t get a fair price, as pawn shops need to turn a profit to stay in business, so this should be a last resort. Pawn shops can be rather picky too, so stick to your safe bets: jewelry, valuable trinkets and really, really old stuff.

Trade-Up

You might find that certain items, like your favorite pair of boots or your leather coat that fits you perfectly, are difficult to part with. In these instances, you might want to try getting rid of them (via any of the above options) only after you’ve bought a similar vegan replacement for them.

Some people prefer to use things ’till they break. You may feel more comfortable finishing whatever animal products you now have in your home, but not buying more. Use what you have until it wears out or runs out and replace it with the vegan alternative. Over time you will eventually have gotten rid of all your non-vegan items.

Wear it out ’till it breaks / Use it ’till it’s gone

DIY

If you have items that hold sentimental value you may find it difficult to part with your old clothing, especially if you are looking to sustainability as your main driver. In this case, you can always choose the DIY approach for turning your old clothing into something else you plan to use.

Fabrics, even those that aren't vegan, still hold plenty of utility. Consider repurposing older clothing to make other things like tapestries, quilts, blankets, or other crafts.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You might find that more than one of these solutions makes sense for your particular situation. Do what feels comfortable for you, but whatever you do, do not just throw things away.

There are people who can use your unwanted non-vegan clothing, furniture, and food. Veganism is something that’s possible no matter what someone’s social status, but throwing away food and clothing that could at least temporarily ease that suffering is absolutely wrong and plain irresponsible.

Do not worry about being a hypocrite.

It is all about attitude and how you share your values. We are not here to pressure others but to inspire them to do their best. If your best is to buy vegan or eco-friendly products from now on and appreciate the animal products that you have in your wardrobe - then so be it.

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