Understanding Veganuary

Veganuary comes at the start of a new year making it a perfect opportunity to embrace a vegan lifestyle. It's a movement that encourages individuals worldwide to explore and learn about veganism for the month of January, fostering awareness about the environmental, ethical, and health benefits of a vegan lifestyle.

The Essence of Veganism and Sustainability

Going Beyond Food Choices

While Veganuary primarily focuses on dietary changes, it extends beyond food. It encompasses embracing cruelty-free and sustainable alternatives in various aspects of life, including fashion.

The Rise of Sustainable Vegan Handbags

In the past several years, there has been an explosion of innovation surrounding vegan handbags, shoes and other accessories. These innovations to vegan leather make it possible to look great while living into compassion and reducing your carbon footprint. Traditional leather handbags involve the unethical slaughtering of sentient beings along with the severe environmental repercussions due to the carcinogens used in production. Cheap PVC handbags are also mass produced using toxic chemicals, they look cheap and these handbags don't last for long.

Sustainable vegan handbags, however, offer a cruelty-free and eco-friendly alternative without compromising style or quality and there are many affordably priced options such as the ones sold at Green Vegan Bags. Newer sustainable vegan leather products are extremely durable and last for years. In fact, because the materials are naturally water resistant and stain resistant, they are very easy to keep looking brand new for years. Some are even waterproof, like cork leather.

Materials and Manufacturing

There are many different sustainable, vegan leather alternatives on the market. Cork is a very popular, durable and stylish handbags material. Made from the cork trees in Portugal, the bark is harvested without harm to the tree. The bark then regerates, making this a amazingly renewable source.

Pinatex, made from pineapple waste, is another highly sustainable option. Because it is woven from what would normally be the waste of an existing agriculture product, the environmental impact is extremely low. Appleskin is similar to Pinatex in that it comes from an existing industry. However, is created out of the waste from the apple industry, mostly from juice and preserve production. 

Then there are vegan handbags that are made from either recycled or upcycled materials. High end PU (polyurethane) vegan leather  and recycled polyester can be post-consumer recycled into a new premium handbag. The style, quality and feel is absolutely amazing. Innertube is upcycled and handcrafted into unique and edgy wallets and handbags. These creative, upcycled vegan bags offer extreme durability and distinctive style. 

There are many other alternatives that are breaking through every day such as cactus, corn and mushroom leather alternatives. These are also fantastic options, though because these materials are not as readily available they are harder to get and therefore, typically priced much higher than other sustainable options.

Making an Impact: Why Vegan Handbags Matter in Veganuary

Environmental Benefits

Despite what the animal leather industry wants the public to believe, leather is not a natural or sustainable by-product. As are all animal products, leather has a huge impact on the welfare of the planet. For example, a cow-skin tote bag produces approximately 100.5 kg of CO2e compared to a vegan leather alternative which emits approximately 14.4 kg of CO2e. The water usage to create leather, from water for the animals and the leather process is also extremely high. See here for more information on this topic.

Ethical Considerations

Veganuary has deep roots in the ethical considerations of how we treat other living beings. Many people begin participating in Veganuary because they began to realize that all animals, not just dogs and cats, feel pain. They also feel happiness, sadness, fear and have a will to live. By participating in Veganuary and choosing cruelty-free products, you are making a positive contribution to living in a world full of compassion and freedom. 

Embracing Veganuary 

Taking the Plunge: Embrace Change, Embrace Veganuary

Veganuary is taking right now, at the beginning of the year. The perfect time for new beginnings and embarking on a conscious journey. It may seem difficult and be overwhelming but you can take steps towards a more compassionate and eco-friendly lifestyle, even if it is one small step at a time. Whether its with your diet or vegan handbags and accessories the options are limitless. So dive on in and get started on your cruelty-free journey today. You will be so happy that you did.