the differences between vegetarianism & veganism
There has been a significant shift towards plant-based diets and cruelty-free living. Two popular dietary choices that reflect this shift are vegetarianism and veganism. The terms are closely related, but there are crucial distinctions between them.
Vegetarians exclude meat, which includes beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, from their diets. However, they may still consume dairy products (lacto-vegetarians), eggs (ovo-vegetarians), or both (lacto-ovo vegetarians). Some may also choose to include other animal by-products like gelatin (found in some desserts and gummy candies) or rennet (used in cheese production), depending on their individual beliefs and preferences.
Veganism is a way of life that extends beyond food into all areas of life, including clothing, cosmetics, household items, etc. It is based on the ethical principles of Ahimsa - to do no harm to any living being. Living with kindness and compassion are the reasons vegans exclude the use of all animal products, including meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products (butter, cheese, etc), eggs, honey, and any other animal-derived ingredients, from their lives. The treatment of animals and their products are directly tied to environmental considerations and the health benefits of non-toxic, clean ingredients that are derived from natural plant sources.
ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Vegetarians reduce their impact on animal agriculture, by not eating meat, they may still support practices like dairy farming and egg production, which involve animal welfare concerns and contribute to environmental issues.
Vegans' ethical stance in the treatment of animals revolves around the unnecessary exploitation and cruelty that is involved in the various industries, championing a cruelty-free lifestyle that extends beyond the plate to encompass various aspects of their daily lives.
In the food industry, there are several key ethical reasons why vegans do not consume animals or their products. Factory farming practices in the meat and dairy industries, subject animals to crowded and unsanitary living conditions. Animals are confined in small cages with overcrowded pens, which leads to stress, injury, and the spread of diseases. These animals have to endure cruel treatment, including routine practices like dehorning, debeaking, tail docking, and castration without anesthesia. These procedures are performed to maximize production efficiency and minimize costs. Factory farming requires large amounts of resources such as water, land, and feed, contributing to environmental issues, including deforestation for cattle grazing, water pollution from manure runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions. These environmental concerns have ethical implications for the broader ecosystem and future generations.
In the dairy industry, a few of the main concerns are that dairy cows are frequently artificially inseminated to maintain a continuous milk production cycle. Like humans, they do not produce milk automatically, only when they have a baby calf. The baby calves are taken away from their mothers after birth so they don’t drink the milk for production. Female calves are raised to become dairy cows like their mothers, and male calves are considered ‘by-products’ that are killed and sold for veal production. The lack of reproductive autonomy and separation of mother and calf is painful and distressing for both. Dairy cows are killed once their milk production declines, typically at a much younger age than their natural lifespan. This raises questions about the ethical treatment and care of animals throughout their lives.
FASHION & BEAUTY
In fashion, beauty, home, and interior products, the difference between vegetarians and vegans becomes especially pronounced. Vegans make more conscious, cruelty-free choices compared to vegetarians.
Animal leather
Many vegetarians still opt for animal leather products, such as shoes, belts, bags, sofas, etc. They may justify this choice by arguing that leather is a byproduct of the meat industry and doesn't contribute directly to animal slaughter. However, this is a misconception. Just as black and white-spotted cows are used specifically for dairy milk, brown and black cows are used for meat. Simmentaler cows are specifically raised for their hides and are not a byproduct of the meat industry.
In contrast, vegans avoid animal leather altogether. There are many alternatives made from synthetic materials, cork, and other plant alternatives to ensure their fashion choices align with their ethical values.
Wool & Silk
Vegetarians may wear wool and silk, both of which are animal-derived materials. They often view these materials as more ethical since they do not understand the cruelty involved in these byproducts. Wool production is a very gruesome and horrific process. A brutal procedure called mulesing in which large strips of skin and flesh are cut from their backs above their tails. This unimaginably agonizing procedure is done without painkillers. Sheep that are sheared of their wool manually by hand blades or scissors, electric shears, or shearing machines sustain wounds such as cutting and tearing the wool and skin from their bodies. Farmers and shearers work as quickly as possible to increase profits, therefore, sheep may be roughly thrown about, restrained, slammed, or even punched and kicked to allow humans to violently steal their wool against their will.
Another misconception is that silk is made without killing of any kind. After female moths have laid their eggs, they are crushed to death and their bodies are checked for diseases. If any disease is found, the eggs are destroyed. Male moths are simply discarded after they mate. Silk fiber comes from the cocoons the silkworm weaves to protect itself during the pupal stage which turns it into an adult silk moth. However, most of the silkworms will not live beyond this stage. They are boiled or gassed alive inside their cocoons, which causes the cocoons to begin unraveling so that the silk threads can be obtained. Some 6,600 silkworms are killed to make just 1 kilogram of silk.
Vegans are true to their commitment to animal welfare and steer clear of wool and silk. They prefer sustainable, cruelty-free alternatives like cotton, bamboo, or Tencel for their clothing needs.
Cosmetics & Beauty Products
The cosmetic and beauty industry has traditionally used a variety of animal-derived ingredients in its products, as well as conducted animal testing to assess safety and efficacy.
Vegetarians might not be as strict about avoiding cosmetics and beauty products tested on animals, as long as the products themselves don't contain animal-derived ingredients. Vegans, on the other hand, seek out cosmetics labeled as "vegan" and "cruelty-free," ensuring that neither the product nor its ingredients come from animals or have been tested on animals.
Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients are collagen, often sourced from animal connective tissues like bones and skin, which is used in skincare and anti-aging products. The extraction process involves boiling animal parts to extract collagen. Lanolin, a natural emollient, is obtained from the sebaceous glands of sheep and is commonly used in lip balms and moisturizers. Lanolin extraction involves collecting the waxy substance from the sheep's wool. Carmine, a red pigment used in cosmetics, is derived from crushed cochineal insects. These insects are dried, crushed, and processed to obtain the color. The iridescent feathers of the guinea fowl have been used for their shimmering effect in various cosmetics, particularly eyeshadows. Mink oil, obtained from the fatty tissue of minks, has been used as an ingredient in some cosmetics for its emollient properties. Guanine and iridescent fish scales, such as those from herring, mackerel, and sardines, have been used for their shimmering effect in cosmetics, particularly nail polishes.
Animals are used to conduct tests for skin irritation, sensitization, eye irritation, oral toxicity, inhalation, and repeated-dose toxicity. Animals are often subjected to tests where potential skin irritants or sensitizers are applied to their shaved skin or ears to observe reactions. Substances are applied to animals' eyes to assess potential eye irritation and damage. Animals are force-fed or orally administered substances to test for toxic effects, including lethality. They are exposed to aerosolized substances to assess respiratory effects. Animals receive repeated doses of a substance to study its cumulative effects on the body over time.
However, there has been a significant shift toward cruelty-free and vegan alternatives due to ethical concerns about animal welfare, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. As a result, many cosmetic companies have transitioned to alternative, cruelty-free, and vegan ingredients to meet consumer demand for more ethical and eco-friendly products. Synthetic and plant-based alternatives to achieve color and shimmering effects are now widely available in the cosmetics market, making it easier for consumers to make cruelty-free and sustainable choices when it comes to their beauty products.
In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to develop and adopt alternative testing methods that do not involve animals. These methods include in vitro (test tube) where cells or tissues cultured in a laboratory setting are used to assess the safety and efficacy of cosmetic ingredients. Computer modeling simulations can predict the potential effects of substances on the human body. Human tissue-based tests that utilize skin and other tissue models grown from human cells can be used to replace animal testing for certain applications. Many countries and regions have implemented bans or restrictions on animal testing for cosmetics.
SPECIESISM
Vegans advocate for equal consideration of all species - animals, insects, reptiles, etc. and reject the notion of ‘speciesism’, which is the belief that one species, such as dogs and cats are superior to others (cows, pigs, snakes, alligators, etc). They argue that animals should not be exploited or harmed solely because they belong to a different species.
The difference between vegetarians and vegans extends beyond dietary choices and spills into various aspects of their lives, including fashion. While vegetarians opt for a diet that excludes meat but may still include some animal products, vegans know that there are plenty of alternatives available in food, fashion and beauty products that people desire without the need to harm animals. They see these alternatives as a more ethical and compassionate choice, embracing cruelty-free choices. Ultimately, whether you're a vegetarian or a vegan, your choices reflect your values, ethics, and commitment to a more sustainable and compassionate way of living.
