Are vegan clothes sustainable?

The answer is No. That something is vegan doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. According to Peta vegan clothes do not use leather, fur, silk, feathers, wool, shearling, cashmere and angora. The reason for not using these materials can be environmental. Leather for example is often a by-product from the milk and meat industry which has a huge carbon and ecological footprint. Further, the process of tanning requires several harmful chemicals where workers are exposed to them and negatively affected. However, it doesn’t mean that the products replacing these animal products are produced in a sustainable manner. Material for vegan leather normally comes from plastics and can contain PVC, which is extremely harmful when being burnt.

More and more companies are using the term “vegan”, but don’t confuse it with sustainable. Vegan doesn’t say anything about the environmental or social aspects of the production - so be a conscious consumer and ask. If you truly want to avoid animal products you should look for the Vegan approved logo!

Here you can read more about animal products in the fashion industry and the animal harm it causes.