World Vegan Day: 5 Easy Cruelty-Free and Sustainable Vegan Swaps for a Kinder Home
Veganism is a movement that’s gaining momentum every day, and the best part is, you don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. With more vegan options available in stores, restaurants, and even rural areas, making compassionate choices has never been easier or more accessible. The Vegan Society sums it up nicely: veganism is about living in a way that avoids exploiting animals, while also embracing alternatives that benefit our planet and our health. So, let’s dive into World Vegan Month.
A Brief History of World Vegan Day
World Vegan Day, celebrated annually on November 1st, marks the anniversary of The Vegan Society's founding in the UK. The term "vegan" was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, a British woodworker who, along with a group of non-dairy vegetarians, wanted a word that represented a lifestyle free from all forms of animal exploitation. The Vegan Society was officially established on November 1st, and to commemorate its 50th anniversary in 1994, World Vegan Day was introduced by then-Chair Louise Wallis. Today, it’s a global celebration of the benefits of veganism for humans, animals, and the environment.
Fun Fact: Veganism and the Environment
Did you know that, according to the Vegan Calculator, adopting a vegan diet for just one day can save about 4,100 litres of water, 1 animal life, 18 kilograms of grain, 3 square metres of forested land, and 9 kilograms of CO2 emissions? That’s the equivalent of not driving your car for almost two days! This highlights just how impactful small changes can be when it comes to protecting our planet.
The environmental benefits of veganism are significant. By choosing plant-based foods and animal free products, we can reduce our carbon footprint, conserve water, and protect ecosystems. Everything we buy offers an opportunity to make a positive impact, and with a wide variety of vegan products available, it’s easier than ever to make choices that are good for the planet, good for you and delicious too.
1. Personal Care Products: Pamper Yourself with Kindness
Personal care products often contain animal-derived ingredients or are tested on animals. Thankfully, there are plenty of cruelty-free and vegan alternatives that don’t compromise on quality.Swap to: Bondi Wash - This Australian brand offers luxurious, all-natural personal care products, from body washes to hand creams. Bondi Wash uses native Australian botanicals and is both cruelty-free and certified vegan. By choosing their products, you’ll be treating your skin while supporting a brand committed to environmental sustainability.
Why it’s better: Vegan and cruelty-free personal care products avoid harmful chemicals and reduce animal suffering, all while supporting ethical practices. Also, you know that white shower scum… that is animal fats! Your shower screen and skin will thank you for the natural, nourishing ingredients!
2. Makeup: Glow with Compassion
Your makeup routine doesn’t have to come at the expense of animals. Switching to vegan and cruelty-free makeup ensures your beauty products are as kind as they are effective.
Swap to: Inika Organic - This Australian brand offers a range of vegan and cruelty-free makeup, from foundations to lipsticks. Inika Organic uses botanicals and minerals, ensuring that your makeup is ethical and high-performing.
Why it’s better: Vegan makeup avoids animal-derived ingredients like beeswax and carmine, which are found in conventional products. Plus, brands like Inika Organic also focus on sustainable packaging, making a positive environmental impact.
3. Tissue Paper: Soft on Skin, Gentle on the Earth
Tissue paper might not be the first thing you think of, but many conventional tissues use animal-derived glue or lack transparency in sourcing.
Swap to: Eco Cheeks - Eco Cheeks, offers tissue paper that’s 100% bamboo, unbleached, and recyclable. Our tissue paper is vegan and cruelty-free, incredibly soft, and kind to your skin.
Why it’s better: Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource that doesn’t require pesticides or fertilisers. By choosing bamboo tissue paper, you’re making a sustainable choice that’s gentle on the planet and aligns with vegan values.
4. Cleaning Products: Keep Your Home Clean and Green
Cleaning products often contain animal-derived ingredients and are tested on animals. Switching to vegan and cruelty-free cleaning products helps you maintain a clean home without compromising your ethics.
Why it’s better: Vegan cleaning products avoid tallow (animal fat) and other animal by-products found in conventional cleaners. Koala Eco’s commitment to recycled and recyclable packaging also helps reduce your plastic footprint.
5. Pet Care: Treat Your Furry Friends with Compassion
For pet owners, ensuring that pet products are cruelty-free and vegan is important. From pet food to grooming products, there are many options that support a kinder lifestyle.
Swap to: Veganpet - This Australian brand specialises in 100% vegan pet food that’s nutritionally complete and vet-approved. Veganpet offers both dry and wet food options, ensuring your pets get all the nutrients they need without animal by-products.
Why it’s better: Veganpet’s products are free from animal-derived ingredients, supporting a cruelty-free lifestyle for you and your pets. Their commitment to sustainability makes them a great choice for eco-conscious pet owners.
Bonus Swap: Vegan Food Day – A Delicious Way to Make a Difference
A great way to embrace veganism is by dedicating one day a week to eating entirely plant-based meals. It’s a fun way to experiment with new recipes and reduce your carbon footprint while supporting animal welfare.Swap to: Garden of Vegan - Garden of Vegan is an Australian brand offering a range of delicious vegan products, from snacks to pantry staples. Their online store makes it easy to find high-quality vegan items that support your plant-based lifestyle.
Why it’s better: Garden of Vegan provides a curated selection of vegan products, making it simpler to incorporate cruelty-free options into your diet. By choosing their products, you’re supporting a local business that shares your commitment to a kinder world.
Conclusion: Embrace a Kinder Lifestyle This World Vegan Day
Switching to cruelty-free and vegan products is easier than ever, thanks to the growing number of ethical brands committed to high-quality, compassionate products. Whether you start with one or all of these swaps, you’re taking a positive step towards a kinder, more sustainable home.