Introduction
As consumers, we are seeing more and more vegan products available to buy on the market. Many people still only associate the idea of vegan products with food, mainly because our supermarkets are increasingly adding vegan product lines to their already very successful organic and "free-from" food ranges. It is fair to say that what was once a relatively limited trend has now become mainstream and something that we see everywhere we go. We probably all know some people who took part in Veganuary as part of their New Year resolutions this year. Veganuary is a charity inspiring people to try living a vegan lifestyle for January and, where possible, throughout the rest of the year. We wrote about Veganuary not just being for humans in our recent article. According to researchers at the University of Oxford, adopting a vegan lifestyle is the single biggest change that we, as individuals, can make to reduce the impact that we have on the environment. Here at Noggins & Binkles, we recognise that vegan goes far beyond food, which is why we have developed our range of vegan cat and dog accessories which includes collars, leads, leashes, cat harnesses, cat toys and cat and dog ID tags.
Our vegan and eco friendly cork cat balls in a fun leopard print design
So, what is a vegan?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA for short, defines a vegan as a person who does not consume meat, dairy products, eggs, honey, or any product derived from an animal. They go on to explain that vegans don’t buy products, such as clothes and household furniture, that are derived from animals including leather, fur, silk, or wool. Strict vegans also refuse to use products that are made with animal ingredients, filtered using animal parts or have been tested on animals. At Noggins & Binkles, we are proud to be able to say that we are PETA-Approved Vegan, which means that our products and manufacturing processes are 100% vegan. We do not use any animal products in the manufacture of any of our products and, where possible, we use natural or recycled fabrics. We even won a PETA Animal Companion Award in 2018 for our luxury solid brass cat and dog ID tags.
Gorgeous @lolalittledash wearing her brass engraved dog ID tag
How can a cat or dog collar be vegan?
Traditionally cat and dog collars are made from a wide range of natural and synthetic materials including fabric, leather, wool, PVC and rubber to name but a few. However, we have noticed an increased demand from our discerning customers for luxury cat and dog collars made entirely from vegan materials and using vegan manufacturing processes. All of the cat and dog collars that we make follow these principles, ensuring that our customers can be sure that no animals were harmed in the sourcing of our materials or the manufacturing of our beautiful collars. These principles go far beyond the primary material used to manufacture each cat or dog collar. We currently offer cat and dog collars made from three vegan fabrics; cork, Piñatex® and cotton. Consumers often focus on the primary material in any given product, but at Noggins & Binkles, we look at the end-end manufacturing process as well as all of the components used in the manufacturing of our products to ensure that we can guarantee our customers that our products are completely animal free. This means that all of the dyes, glue and threads used in the manufacture of all of our beautiful products are also 100% vegan. We believe that this gives our customers the peace of mind that their furry friends are wearing beautiful, cruelty free accessories.
What is a cork collar, lead, leash or harness?
Most people associate cork with bottles of wine, floor coverings and the soles of shoes, but its application goes far beyond that. Cork has become quite mainstream in recent times with many manufacturers making use of it, including furniture giant IKEA, who recently launched a number of items made out of, or trimmed with, cork. Cork is an ethical and sustainable alternative to leather, which has natural antibacterial qualities in addition to being water resistant. Cork is a natural and sustainable material made from the bark of a specific type of oak tree, the cork oak. The bark of the cork oak is removed from the cork oak tree periodically and can then grow back to be re-harvested years later. In fact, harvesting the cork and letting the cork oak tree grow back allows the tree to produce up to four times more bark than it otherwise would, which benefits the environment as well as providing a beautiful material that can be used in many different ways. Our range of luxury cork cat and dog collars, leashes, leads and cat harnesses are soft to the touch whilst at the same time being hard wearing and come in a number of colourways. The best thing about them, of course, is that they are entirely natural and vegan.
Binkles wearing his mustard yellow vegan cork leather breakaway safety cat collar with bell
What is a Piñatex® collar, lead, leash or harness?
Piñatex® is an innovative, natural, non-woven textile made from pineapple leaf fibre. On its website, Piñatex® explains that the pineapple leaves are the byproduct of existing agriculture and that their use, therefore, creates an additional income stream for farming communities in areas where the leaves are harvested. Piñatex® is a natural, sustainably-sourced, cruelty free material, but on top of all that it looks absolutely beautiful when made into unique luxury cat collars and designer dog collars, just like the gold and silver ones in our current range.
Gorgeous @lolalittledash wearing her gold Pinatex dog collar with brass buckle
Why should I buy a vegan cat or dog collar, leash, lead or harness?
Here at Noggins & Binkles, we don't believe it is our role to tell our customers what they should or should not buy, either for themselves or for their pets. We just believe passionately in the rights and welfare of animals and so have developed our range of vegan cat and dog accessories to appeal to others who share the same beliefs and ideals as us when it comes to kitting our their furry friends. We don't believe that it is necessary to use animal products in the manufacturing of beautiful cat and dog accessories and that there are so many beautiful materials available, including cork and Piñatex®, that offer unique and distinctive alternatives to products made using animal derivatives. PETA says that most leather is sourced from developing countries such as India and China, where animal welfare laws are either non-existent or not enforced. Beyond animal welfare considerations, the process of "tanning" leather uses a number of toxins that are harmful both to the environment and those employed in the tanneries. We just think it makes sense to avoid these products when there are so many new, beautiful and unique options available that don't compromise animal welfare and which, in many cases, have significant environmental benefits to boot.
How do I know that the products I am buying are vegan?
On its website, PETA has a list of PETA-Approved Vegan manufacturers. We are delighted that Noggins & Binkles is included on this list. When you buy from the manufacturers approved by PETA, including Noggins & Binkles, you know that the products you are buying are cruelty-free.