What Does "Vegan" Mean? (Part 1/3)

© Viola Di Pietro | Dreamstime.com

Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle whose adherents seek to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans endeavor not to use or consume animal products of any kind. The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are human health, ethical commitment or moral conviction concerning animal rights or welfare, the environment, and spiritual or religious concerns. Of particular concern to many vegans are the practices involved in factory farming and animal testing, and the intensive use of land and other resources for animal farming.

According to The Vegan Society, veganism is a lifestyle that abstains from causing any form of exploitation or cruelty to animals. This means, adopting a plant-based diet and lifestyle that is free of animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs and honey. (Honey and all other bee products, by definition, are not vegan.) In addition, products must be cruelty free in that they are not tested on animals.

The Certified Vegan logo is a registered trademark signifying that products are vegan, defined here as:
          
          a.) containing no animal ingredients or by-products, 
          b.) using no animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process, 
          c.) and not tested on animals by any company or independent contractor.

The logo is administered by the Vegan Awareness Foundation, also known as Vegan Action, a nonprofit organization promoting veganism.

This information is solely intended to define the meaning of the term Vegan. Stay tuned for Part 2 which will discuss what makes a skincare product Vegan as well as a detailed list of prohibited ingredients in Vegan Skincare Products (There are well over 100 animal-derived ingredients/products commonly used in the skincare industry).

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com