Is there such thing as a vegan car? The short answer is no, there is no such thing as a vegan car currently - but there are ways to make buying a car a little bit more ethical as there are ‘vegan friendly’ choices that you can make.
According to Arnold Clark in 2015 “when you begin to understand that animal fats are used in the production of steel and rubber among other components used in car manufacturing, you realise that it is almost impossible to buy a car that is 100% vegan.”
As we are vegans living in a ‘non-vegan’ world we agree with The Vegan Society definition of veganism that includes the term “as far as is possible and practicable” in its definition. We realise that in today's society it is neither practical or possible to avoid cars (or buses, trains or planes for that matter, which all use steel in their production) for the rest of our lives and we all need to get around, be it work, school, recreation, supermarkets etc. What we can do, however, is look for the option with the least impact on the animals and in turn the environment.
When looking to be as ethical as possible in buying a new car there are some designs on the market. LiveKindly has listed thirteen of what they consider to be the top cruelty-free, eco friendly cars that are either on the market or arriving within the next few years. They also give tips on how you can make your current car more cruelty free and there are things you can do to ‘veganise’ your current car as buying a brand new car isn’t an option for everyone.
One of the obvious things to veganise is the tyres. Luckily, Michelin are fully vegan and there are other manufacturers that although may not be fully vegan they do have a vegan option for you to choose from.
(Image: Vegworldmag.com/cruelty-free-cars-a-guide-to-making-vegan-car-choices/)
There are also interior options on newer cars:-
- Consider entry level trims over premium.
- Swap out leather seats, steering wheels, gear shifts and trims for vegan alternatives.
- Swap out non vegan floor coverings for vegan alternatives.
- Contact the manufacturer to verify whether LCD screen is vegan.
Most car manufacturers these days are increasingly conscious of their environmental impact and Boris Johnson has pledged a plan for a “green industrial revolution” with a ban on diesel and petrol engines by 2030. The car industry is also shifting away from obvious animal products in its car interiors such as leather. An Infinium Global Research study has found that the vegan leather industry could have a compound annual growth rate of 49.9% from 2019 to 2025.
We all do the best we can with what choice we have but it is promising to see the car industry shifting towards more cruelty free choices and environmentally friendly practices.
