Ethical Reasons for Going Vegan

Many people become vegans not only for the health and environmental benefits, but also for ethical reasons. Many vegans believe that people promote the meat industry through their consumption of eggs and dairy products. This belief is due to the fact that once dairy cows and egg-laying chickens grow too old to be efficient and productive, they are usually sold as meat. And sadly enough, since male cows do not make milk, they are usually raised for veal and other products. For these reasons, especially the cruel treatment of animals raised for consumption, many people decide to become vegan.

Some vegans take their lifestyle changes even further. Many vegans choose not to use or wear clothing or other products made of fur, leather, wool, silk, feathers, etc. because they derive from animals. These vegans instead wear clothing made from plant or man-made materials.

- Some plant materials include: cotton, linen, hemp

- Some man-made materials include: polyester, acrylic, nylon


Some vegans also choose not to go to venues that create artificial environments for animals for the purpose of creating entertainment and profit. Such venues include: animal circuses, zoos, safari parks, aquariums, horseraces, and any other venue that uses animals for human profit. Vegans who refrain from visiting these places do so because they believe that animals belong in their own natural habitats with other members of their species, not isolated in  artificial, man-made habitats. These vegans, though, do usually support animal sanctuaries and wildlife reserves for their efforts at saving animals from exploitation and extinction,

Some vegans do not believe that breeding household animals is ethical either, for they believe that domestication can be against the best interests of animals who will then be forced to rely on their human owners for everything, from food to exercise to socialization. Vegans who believe this though, often do support the adoption and rescue of animals from shelters, which are viewed as refuges who deserve to be cared for.

Many vegans also choose not to use cosmetic or household products that have been tested on animals and choose instead to use cruelty-free products. Thankfully, the industry for cruelty-free products is growing.