When we think of the words “vegan,” the first thing that comes to mind is food. Vegans don’t eat meat or fish or dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and butter. However, there’s a lot more to being vegan than food. Veganism is a lifestyle where you choose to consume and use products that aren’t harmful to the animals or the environment in any way.
Cosmetics- It’s shocking to discover that the majority of popular cosmetic brands and products contain an appalling number of animal products. Here is a list of common ingredients in cosmetic products that are derived from animals.
So here are a few simple things for you to look out for on labels of things you’d be less likely to think about than food to help you on your journey – because believe me, we’re not all bad people
Caprylic acid/caprylic triglyceride: made from cow and goat milk
Hyaluronic acid: derived from rooster combs (the bit on top of their heads
Tallow: this is another name for animal fat
Beeswax, honey, propolis, and royal jelly: often found in lip balms, so watch out
Squalene: this is derived from shark liver
One of the best ways to tell whether something is vegan is to look for the leaping bunny sign on packaging to indicate the product is cruelty-free. If a product has the V symbol on it, it’s vegan.
Clothes- When purchasing clothes, it's important to be mindful of the materials used to make the clothing. Some examples of clothing to avoid include the following:
Silk- creating large amounts of silk involves boiling the silkworms until they dissolve to produce the maximum amount of silk
Leather- made from cow hides
Wool- made from the wool of sheep
Feathers- usually, the feathers used in downs or duvets are made from a bird’s chest feathers. These are the feathers that don’t fall out naturally.
Suede- made from the underside of the skin of goats, lambs, calves, and goats
Fur- fur is the animal’s coat that is attached to the skin.
Lifestyle- In addition to purchasing, avoiding participating in activities that promote animal suffering is also part of being vegan. Take a look at some examples of activities that vegans don’t participate in.
Visiting zoos or aquariums- Although zoos will try to convince their audience that they are working on conserving animals, 90% of animals are born into captivity. Animals in zoos are forced to live in artificial, stressful, and downright boring conditions. Removed from their natural habitats and social structures, they are confined to small, restrictive environments that deprive them of mental and physical stimulation. Rather than visiting a zoo, try visiting a sanctuary.
Horseback riding- Some people do exploit horses. They force them to perform even when they're not physically capable, mentally prepared, or emotionally invested in the event. The horse doesn't want to work for the human, but the horse has no choice. However, some horseback riding places treat the animals with respect and kindness, so it really depends on the place.
Avoiding going to places that deliberately promote animal suffering for money such as Lagoon Amusement Park, Sea World or the Utah State Fair.