{"id":323,"date":"2019-02-08T18:34:54","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T18:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=is_it_vegan&p=323"},"modified":"2020-02-17T16:00:23","modified_gmt":"2020-02-17T16:00:23","slug":"wool","status":"publish","type":"is_it_vegan","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/is-it-vegan\/wool\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Wool Vegan?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WoolThere are lots of ways to stay warm during the winter months, but pulling on a big woolly jumper or cardigan sits snuggly at the top of many people\u2019s lists. But for those following a vegan lifestyle, wool is certainly something to be avoided. It might pass under the radar for some, but \u2013 as we will explain \u2013 there is little doubt that wool is not vegan friendly.<\/p>\n

Many foods and products we feature in the Is It Vegan?<\/a> area of our site are very obviously not vegan friendly, such as milk<\/a>. Others – such as honey<\/a> or palm oil <\/a>introduce elements of ambiguity or subjectivity to proceedings. When it comes to answering the question of whether or not wool is vegan, however, there is no such ambiguity.<\/p>\n

What is Wool?<\/h2>\n

\"Sheep\"<\/p>\n

On a basic level, wool is simply a fibre used to make textiles that has been obtained from the fleece, hide or fur from various animals, including sheep (the primary source of wool), goats (for example, for cashmere and mohair), alpacas, lamas, camels, rabbits (for example, angora wool), muskoxen and bison. The fibres are crimped and elastic, possessing insulating properties and the ability to be wound or bound into yarn.<\/p>\n

Why Is Wool Not Vegan-Friendly?<\/h2>\n

As stated in the widely accepted definition of vegani<\/a>sm<\/a>, veganism is:<\/p>\n

A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude \u2013 as far as is possible and practicable \u2013 all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We will come onto the cruelty aspect of wool later, but there can be little argument against the fact that the production of wool certainly exploits animals for clothing. So, on that basis alone, wool \u2013 obtained from any animal \u2013 cannot be classified as vegan.<\/p>\n

Vegan-Friendly Alternatives to Wool<\/h2>\n
\"Fabric
Hemp fibre from the Cannabis sativa plant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are satisfied that wool is not vegan, take a look at the table of the most popular vegan friendly wool alternatives below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Wool Alternative<\/th>\nWhat Is It?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Organic Cotton<\/td>\nCotton is a soft fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. The cotton plant is a shrub that grows naturally in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cotton fabric has been used by humans for millennia and it is the plant-based fibre most commonly used for clothing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Linen<\/td>\nLinen is made from the fibres of the flax plant and though its manufacture is more time-consuming than that of cotton, linen dries faster than cotton and is often preferred in climates with high levels of humidity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hemp<\/td>\nHemp fibre is a versatile material that comes from the Cannabis sativa plant \u2013 yes, that is the same plant from which marijuana comes. Once commonly used to make sails for ships, hemp is now used for a variety of products and garments, including shoes, sacks, dresses, and dog collars.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jute<\/td>\nJute is a rather coarse fibre that is produced from a variety of plants usually belonging to the Corchorus genus of plants. Second to cotton in terms of the amount produced, its fibres have a range of uses, including cloth for sacks and wrapping, curtains, carpets and rugs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soy Fabric<\/td>\nAlso known as soy silk, this soy protein fibre is produced from by-products that occur during the processing of soybeans. Unlike jute or hemp, soy silk feels soft on the skin and can be used to make a variety of garments.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nettle<\/td>\nThe fibres obtained from the humble nettle plant are surprisingly versatile and strong and have been used to make a range of products from cordage to sack to clothing garments. The nettle plant is abundant in the wild in the UK, as you\u2019ll no doubt have encountered, so it could be a good option if you want to make your own vegan-friendly textiles\u2026 but make sure you wear gloves!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seaweed, Kelp & Algae<\/td>\nTextiles made from seaweed, kelp and algae are becoming more common as consumers seek out more sustainable alternatives to more common options. While these are not yet as established as other options mentioned, they are set to grow in popularity as processing techniques improve and costs decrease.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bamboo<\/td>\nBamboo is a fast-growing grass that is increasingly being used to make breathable, eco-friendly clothing. It is antibacterial, has good moisture-wicking properties and is extremely soft.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nylon<\/td>\nNylon was first created in the 1930s and is a synthetic polymer that has a range of uses, including in clothes, often blended alongside other fabrics. It is used less and less in fabrics these days.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rPET (Recycled Polyester)<\/td>\nAnother option for those with the environment on their mind, rPET refers to fabric made from recycled bottles and other plastic items. The plastic is shredded, crushed, melted and then spun into fibres to use to make clothing.<\/p>\n

While this could be seen to be wholly positive in that it reduces plastic waste, there is some suggestion that turning these plastics into fibres increases the likelihood that small particles of plastic will find their way into the ecosystem. As such, some of the other options in this table might appeal more to many vegans.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Is Wool Cruel to Animals?<\/h2>\n

For vegans, and many non-vegans for that matter, the concept of locking animals up in captivity for the majority of their lives before slaughtering them to provide food for humans has clear moral issues. But, when it comes to wool, many people are less inclined to label it cruel. After all, it is often the case that sheep are essentially left to roam free to graze in wide open spaces for much of the year, only brought in to give birth and for shearing. That\u2019s certainly preferable to the lives of battery chickens!<\/p>\n

Also, it is not as if shearing \u2013 the process of cutting off the animal\u2019s fleece \u2013 is anywhere near as cruel as the fur industry, for instance, which obviously requires the animals in question to die. That doesn\u2019t tell the whole story though.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the wool obtained from sheep, which accounts for the vast majority of woollen products in the UK. There are detailed guidelines published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs<\/a> department of the UK Government relating to caring for sheep. Some of this makes for fairly grim reading, however.<\/p>\n

For instance, when giving recommendations about the castration of lambs. It states:<\/p>\n

Castration is unlikely to be necessary where lambs will be finished and sent to slaughter before reaching sexual maturity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here are a few brief details about some of the other practices that are used \u2013 or have been used \u2013 to provide wool for humans.<\/p>\n

Shearing<\/h3>\n
\"Sheep
Farmer shearing a sheep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shearing is often a fast-paced activity and though shearers are supposed to be experienced and well-trained, this isn\u2019t like going to the barbers and inevitably the animal being sheared can suffer cuts.<\/p>\n

Because many breeds of sheep used by the wool industry have been bred so that their wool doesn\u2019t stop growing, they must be sheared at least once a year so that their fleeces do not get too long or thick, which could cause overheating in the summer.<\/p>\n

Tail Docking<\/h3>\n

Tail docking is the intentional removal of part of the tail by cutting, searing or some other method. Wool industry representatives suggest that it is necessary to dock (shorten) the tails of sheep in order to prevent flies laying eggs in the faecal material that might otherwise build up on their tails.<\/p>\n

The UK Welfare of Livestock Regulations (1987) states that sufficient tail must be retained to cover \u201cthe vulva in the case of female sheep and the anus in the case of male sheep.\u201d There is a risk, if docking is not performed correctly, of rectal prolapse.<\/p>\n

Castration<\/h3>\n

As mentioned above, castration involves the removal of a lamb or ram\u2019s testicles, by constriction.<\/p>\n

Mulesing<\/h3>\n

A practice whereby portions of flesh are removed from the body of the sheep, which is supposed to reduce the risk of \u201cflystrike\u201d \u2013 where fly lay eggs between the folds of a sheep\u2019s skin. At the time of writing, mulesing is still widely practiced in Australia.<\/p>\n

Tooth Grinding<\/h3>\n

Tooth grinding or tooth clipping were practices carried out on some sheep in the past based on (apparently erroneous) suggestions that the practices could somehow improve production on the basis that it is harder for a sheep with long teeth to graze. The practices were identified as both cruel and essentially pointless. Tooth grinding in sheep is prohibited under UK law.<\/p>\n

Electro-Immobilisation, Vasectomy, Electro-Ejaculation<\/h3>\n

Another group of practices that sound more like torture treatments than farming techniques, and these too are banned under UK law (though the latter two may be performed by a veterinary surgeon).<\/p>\n

Dehorning & Disbudding<\/h3>\n

Dehorning (the removal of horns) and disbudding (the destruction of horn buds, usually by cauterisation, before horns have grown) is undertaken by farmers in order to minimise the chances that sheep will injure one another. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), only a veterinary surgeon may perform dehorning or disbudding on a sheep.<\/p>\n

Sheep Dipping<\/h3>\n

As stated by the Soil Association, \u201cMany non-organic farmers also use organophosphorus dips to control sheep scab.\u201d Organophosphates can be potent nerve agents and there have been numerous scientific studies linking their use to poor health in farmers and livestock.<\/p>\n

Marking<\/h3>\n

Ear tattooing or tagging is often carried out to help farmers identify sheep in their flock. While this could often be described as a \u201cshort, sharp shock\u201d there is no doubt that sheep being tattooed or tagged would feel at least some discomfort.<\/p>\n

As you will have read, there are plenty of reasons that many vegans and non-vegans would deem the wool industry as cruel. Hence, as well as the very clear exploitation of animals for clothing as mentioned earlier, we feel that obtaining wool from animals also has elements of cruelty to it too, in almost all scenarios, that is. The one exception to the rule could be the case of so-called \u201cdead wool\u201d.<\/p>\n

Is Dead Wool Vegan?<\/h2>\n

We have stated that wool obtained from any animal is not vegan friendly, but \u2013 for some people \u2013 there is one exception on ethical grounds: dead wool. Dead wool is that which has been taken from sheep (or other animals) that have died naturally or have been accidentally killed, as opposed to those which have been killed for the purpose of meat or for the wool itself. Dead wool should not be confused with \u201cpulled wool\u201d, which is taken from animals that have been slaughtered for meat or other products.<\/p>\n

From an ethical standpoint, dead wool has not exploited the animal in question and so many vegans would be comfortable enough wearing garments produced from dead wool. Though it should be mentioned that such wool is generally of a low quality compared to other types of wool and indeed when compared to many of the vegan-friendly alternatives to wool that are available.<\/p>\n

On top of that, practical considerations mean that the availability of dead wool is highly limited and certainly products made from it are not widely available. As such, while this might make an interesting ethical talking point (in much the same way as the question of whether or not roadkill meat is vegan<\/a>), in practical terms, it rarely becomes a consideration for vegans looking to buy a jumper for the winter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":326,"template":"","tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is_it_vegan\/323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is_it_vegan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/is_it_vegan"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is_it_vegan\/323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}