Before considering whether vegan fashion is truly eco-friendly, it is important to understand what veganism means. Being vegan involves excluding all animal-derived products from your diet and embracing a lifestyle that respects animals. No more fish, meat, eggs, honey, or dairy... All these foods are replaced with plant-based proteins.
Does veganism have a lower environmental impact than an omnivorous diet?
The positive aspects of veganism
- The meat and dairy industry is highly polluting as it uses vast amounts of water, land, and fossil fuels, while generating greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution. Furthermore, this industry is responsible for 91% of deforestation in the Amazon and is the primary cause of biodiversity loss on Earth. By eating vegan, you significantly reduce the environmental footprint of your diet. It is, in fact, considered the least polluting diet.
- Over 1.1 billion animals are slaughtered each year in France, not including fish and aquatic life. More than 80% of these animals come from factory farming. It is also essential to highlight the deplorable conditions these animals endure: genetic manipulation, intolerable living conditions, stress, and mutilation without anaesthetic prior to transport and slaughter. Being vegan therefore means consuming more ethically and respecting animal life.
The limitations of veganism
- From an environmental standpoint, some studies suggest that consuming vegan may not be 100% eco-friendly. Plant-based production also requires water. While it uses far less than meat production, the amount remains significant.
- A vegan diet can become harmful to your health if it is not properly guided. The lack of animal protein must be replaced with plant proteins. This trend is sometimes poorly understood or managed, and many people are unaware of nutritional equivalences.
And where do brands fit into all of this?
The vegan label you see on many fashion and cosmetic products is currently neither mandatory nor regulated by law. There is no law preventing anyone from creating their own "vegan" logo, which often leads to misleading terminology or false advertising. However, there are European associations and official bodies recognised by consumers. Vegan certification from these organisations comes at a cost, but it guarantees consumers full vegan traceability from farm to table. You should always check what the vegan label stands for, its standards, and how it monitors certification.
It is also important to emphasise that buying and consuming vegan does not automatically mean that products are eco-responsible, environmentally friendly or healthy for our bodies and the planet. In cosmetics, for example, a product can be vegan and free from animal ingredients, yet contain less desirable substances such as silicones or parabens.
Adopting veganism in daily life has numerous positive impacts on the planet and our bodies. However, veganism needs to be redefined in all its aspects rather than focusing solely on diet, in order to embrace a truly healthier and more eco-friendly lifestyle. One can therefore be vegan without necessarily adopting an eco-responsible approach.
That is why at Zèta, we are committed to offering you products that are vegan and more: all our shoes are crafted from recycled and recyclable materials. We have also reduced intermediaries across our supply chain, stopped shipping outside Europe, and remained as transparent as possible.
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