What’s That Made of - Vegan Materials

Have you ever wondered what kind of materials are used when making vegan products? There are a wide variety of faux leathers and some faux suedes that are used to make vegan accessories. But the buck doesn’t stop there. In fact, the list of vegan materials is quite long. Chances are that most of us, even the non-vegans, have used them at some point or another. Read on to learn a little bit more about popular vegan materials.

First on the list is the ever-popular hemp. Hemp is the nation’s most environmentally friendly crop. It improves soil quality and requires no herbicides because it’s naturally resistant to many types of insects, fungus, and other common pests. Another reason it is so popular is because it grows rapidly, replenishes itself often, and carries its own antimicrobial properties. Industrial hemp is great for allergy sufferers and other people who are sensitive to fungus, parasites, and bacteria. Hemp products are not only attractive; they’re very durable as well.

The next product on the list is known as jute. Jute can be fully grown in around four months, and besides being fast-growing, it’s incredibly strong. Jute is 100 percent biodegradable and therefore completely environmentally friendly. Jute is incredibly durable and has a luxurious texture. The real downside to the product is that it is grown mainly in Asia, meaning it must be imported for use.Next on the list is bamboo. Bamboo is an extremely popular vegan material that has become renowned for its antibacterial properties and its extremely soft texture. And though it’s a rapidly growing tree and a beneficial crop for the environment, many people dismiss. The living bamboo root structure protects and benefits the soil and the tree itself is essential to the process of carbon cycling. Bamboo is biodegradable and all natural, and it makes an excellent additive for any vegan product manufacture.

Another type of vegan product known as faux leather, which some lovingly call pleather, is constructed of polyurethane (PU). Polyurethane is a synthetic material that is water resistant, but does not breathe. Pleather must be wiped with a cloth or hand washed.Faux suede, also known as suedette, is a synthetic cloth that feels very much like suede, only softer. Faux suede can be treated with a waterproofer to help increase the water resistance. It is important to remember that this process may darken some faux suede fabrics. Faux suede cannot be washed in the washing machine and must be cleaned with a damp cloth.

There is a wide variety of other vegan materials available to help create products for the vegan lifestyle. If interested in learning more about these other products, consider doing your homework. You will find that there is a wide base of information available on the Internet that will help you gain access to the information you need to embark on the vegan lifestyle.