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| vega:veganism [2026/03/13 12:00] – [Related topics] Katja Durrani | vega:veganism [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| # Veganism | This topic is part of [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. |
| | ====== Veganism ====== |
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| ## What is veganism? | ===== What is veganism? ===== |
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| The Vegan Society defines veganism as 'a way of living which seeks to avoid, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.' In addition to abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey, vegans do not wear animal-derived clothing, such as leather or wool, or use cosmetics and other products tested on animals. Medicine is currently the exception since animal testing is still a legal requirement in many countries. However, there are organisations dedicated to exploring alternative forms of testing. Vegans also don’t participate in activities which feature animals, such as zoos, circuses and horse racing. | The Vegan Society defines veganism as 'a way of living which seeks to avoid, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.' In addition to abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey, vegans do not wear animal-derived clothing, such as leather or wool, or use cosmetics and other products tested on animals. Medicine is currently the exception since animal testing is still a legal requirement in many countries. However, there are organisations dedicated to exploring alternative forms of testing. Vegans also don’t participate in activities which feature animals, such as zoos, circuses and horse racing. |
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| ## What are the benefits of veganism? | ===== What are the benefits of veganism? ===== |
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| NB: Lowimpact.org provides information about keeping animals, dairying, leather tanning etc., but only via organic smallholdings, without the cruelty or unsustainable practices mentioned here. We support veganism because it can help reduce the total amount of meat produced / consumed, which we think is a good thing. Whether animals should be kept (or hunted) for meat and other resources at all is a philosophical point that is covered [here](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/ethical-keep-animals-meat-dairy/). | NB: Lowimpact.org provides information about keeping animals, dairying, leather tanning etc., but only via organic smallholdings, without the cruelty or unsustainable practices mentioned here. We support veganism because it can help reduce the total amount of meat produced / consumed, which we think is a good thing. Whether animals should be kept (or hunted) for meat and other resources at all is a philosophical point that is covered [here](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/ethical-keep-animals-meat-dairy/). |
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| ### Animal welfare | ==== Animal welfare ==== |
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| The arguments are the same as for [vegetarianism](/vegt/vegetarianism), but vegans also avoid dairy, eggs, animal fibres and other products on the grounds that large-scale production of those things causes no less cruelty. In industrial, corporate agriculture, dairy cows are prone to infections due to over-milking, and are kept in a continual, unnatural cycle of artificial insemination and birth to stimulate milk production. Their calves are taken away soon after birth, since the mother’s milk is required for human consumption. Like laying hens, dairy cows are either slaughtered in their prime for meat or simply disposed of once they are exhausted and no longer productive. The average life span of a dairy cow is four years, in contrast to its natural 20. Male animals (chicks, calves), being surplus to requirements, and are either killed immediately (chicks may be minced for pet food) or live very short, unnatural lives (veal calves). | The arguments are the same as for [vegetarianism](/vegt/vegetarianism), but vegans also avoid dairy, eggs, animal fibres and other products on the grounds that large-scale production of those things causes no less cruelty. In industrial, corporate agriculture, dairy cows are prone to infections due to over-milking, and are kept in a continual, unnatural cycle of artificial insemination and birth to stimulate milk production. Their calves are taken away soon after birth, since the mother’s milk is required for human consumption. Like laying hens, dairy cows are either slaughtered in their prime for meat or simply disposed of once they are exhausted and no longer productive. The average life span of a dairy cow is four years, in contrast to its natural 20. Male animals (chicks, calves), being surplus to requirements, and are either killed immediately (chicks may be minced for pet food) or live very short, unnatural lives (veal calves). |
| </WRAP> | </WRAP> |
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| ### The environment | ==== The environment ==== |
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| The UN has stated that the meat industry is 'one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.' Figures regarding the impact of the livestock industry vary, but it is widely believed to be [one of the greatest sources of climate change and environmental degradation](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment), ahead of total global transportation. In addition to carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from forest clearing, cows and sheep produce 37% of human-related methane gas and 65% of human-generated nitrous oxide, mostly from manure. Both methane and nitrous oxide have a far greater impact on climate change by volume than carbon dioxide. | The UN has stated that the meat industry is 'one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.' Figures regarding the impact of the livestock industry vary, but it is widely believed to be [one of the greatest sources of climate change and environmental degradation](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment), ahead of total global transportation. In addition to carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from forest clearing, cows and sheep produce 37% of human-related methane gas and 65% of human-generated nitrous oxide, mostly from manure. Both methane and nitrous oxide have a far greater impact on climate change by volume than carbon dioxide. |
| However, the purely environmental arguments for and against animal products are complicated. For example, eating eggs from free-range chickens on a mixed smallholding, line-caught fish or lamb from the Welsh hills may well be more sustainable than drinking soy milk from GM plants grown using pesticides on the other side of the world on land that was previously rainforest. From a purely environmental perspective, we need to look at foodstuffs on a case-by-case basis. Having said that, the sheer amount of meat eaten today means that a lot of it has to come from large-scale, industrial livestock farming, and so overall, it would be a good thing if humanity consumed less meat - and becoming vegan can contribute to that. | However, the purely environmental arguments for and against animal products are complicated. For example, eating eggs from free-range chickens on a mixed smallholding, line-caught fish or lamb from the Welsh hills may well be more sustainable than drinking soy milk from GM plants grown using pesticides on the other side of the world on land that was previously rainforest. From a purely environmental perspective, we need to look at foodstuffs on a case-by-case basis. Having said that, the sheer amount of meat eaten today means that a lot of it has to come from large-scale, industrial livestock farming, and so overall, it would be a good thing if humanity consumed less meat - and becoming vegan can contribute to that. |
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| ### Human health | ==== Human health ==== |
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| A well-balanced vegan diet is more likely to be high in fibre, low in fat and contain the recommended amount of fruit, vegetables and legumes for optimal health. Vegans tend to score better in terms of [heart disease](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321992), [type 2 diabetes](https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/jan/2020/Veganism-and-type-2-diabetes-analysed-in-research-of-over-21000-people), [obesity](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5466943/) and [arthritis](http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/arthritis-and-daily-life/diet-and-arthritis/do-vegetarian-or-vegan-diets-help.aspx), among other conditions. They also tend to have lower cholesterol and [lower body mass index](http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v27/n6/full/0802300a.html) (BMI), than any other dietary group. Health benefits to the individual can have a knock-on effect for society as less strain is placed on health services. | A well-balanced vegan diet is more likely to be high in fibre, low in fat and contain the recommended amount of fruit, vegetables and legumes for optimal health. Vegans tend to score better in terms of [heart disease](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321992), [type 2 diabetes](https://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/jan/2020/Veganism-and-type-2-diabetes-analysed-in-research-of-over-21000-people), [obesity](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5466943/) and [arthritis](http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/arthritis-and-daily-life/diet-and-arthritis/do-vegetarian-or-vegan-diets-help.aspx), among other conditions. They also tend to have lower cholesterol and [lower body mass index](http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v27/n6/full/0802300a.html) (BMI), than any other dietary group. Health benefits to the individual can have a knock-on effect for society as less strain is placed on health services. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| A wealth of information and vegan recipes can be found online, and vegan cookbooks are increasingly available to buy. The [Vegan Society website](https://www.vegansociety.com/) offers recipes, information and nutrition resources. | A wealth of information and vegan recipes can be found online, and vegan cookbooks are increasingly available to buy. The [Vegan Society website](https://www.vegansociety.com/) offers recipes, information and nutrition resources. |
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| ## Further resources | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/food). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| - [Vegan Society](https://www.vegansociety.com/) | - [Vegan Society](https://www.vegansociety.com/) |
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| ## Related topics | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| - [[lico:cooking|Low-impact cooking]] | - [[lico:cooking|Low-impact cooking]] |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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