Veganism is on the rise, and the promise of no animal testing alone is a key purchasing criterion for more and more consumers. But Vegan certification goes far beyond this claim. On 26 October 2021, at the Sustainable Cosmetic Summit, Ericka Durgahee, Marketing Manager at the Vegan Society, presented the benefits of the “Vegan” label and the criteria for obtaining it.
Formed in 1944, the Vegan Society is the oldest organisation working to promote veganism to the general public, businesses and policy makers. It coined the term “Vegan” and defines veganism as a way of life that excludes, as far as possible, all forms of cruelty and exploitation of animals, whether for food, clothing or any other purpose.
Veganism is conquering the world
The extremist image of the early days has gradually given way to a more responsible perception of a lifestyle that respects not only animals, but also others, the planet and its resources, and the movement has grown: the Vegan Society estimates that by 2025, a quarter of Britons will be vegans and almost half will be flexitarians.
Every year in January, the society organises a “vegan month”, Vaganuary. For the 2020 event, more than 580,000 people of 209 different nationalities have pledged to be vegan for the 31 days of the event. According to a Vegan Society survey in February and March, 40% of them decided to remain vegan after the trial month.
Vaganuary 2021 also saw the launch of 825 new vegan products and over 170 million views of its #Veganuary on TikTok.
Another figure showing the …