Vegan and labels · 1 min read
Hidden Animal Ingredients in Cleaning Products
You'd think a laundry box would be the last place to find animal products. Mostly you'd be right. But a few ingredient names can be plant or animal, and the label rarely says which.
Quick answer: watch for tallow, lanolin, stearic acid, glycerin and some fatty acids. They can be plant or animal. The only sure way to know is to ask the brand.
The usual suspects
| Ingredient | Can come from |
|---|---|
| Tallow (sodium tallowate) | Beef or mutton fat |
| Lanolin | Sheep's wool |
| Stearic acid | Animal or plant fat |
| Glycerin | Animal or plant fat |
| Oleic acid | Animal or plant fat |
Tallow is the easy one. It's always animal. The rest are shape-shifters.
Why the label doesn't tell you
Ingredient names describe the chemical, not where it came from. Plant glycerin and animal glycerin are both just "glycerin". Nobody's hiding anything. The naming system just wasn't built for this question.
How to ask a brand
Send a short email:
- Does any ingredient come from animals?
- Where does your glycerin come from?
- Do you test on animals, or pay anyone to?
A brand that knows its supply chain will answer quickly. A brand that goes quiet has told you something too.
Our list, for the record
Nothing in Just 7 comes from animals. Our film is made from fermented starch.†
FAQ
Is glycerin in detergent vegan? It can be either. Plant glycerin is vegan. Ask the brand which they use.
What is sodium tallowate? A soap made from animal fat. It's not vegan.
Are most laundry detergents vegan? Many are, but the label alone won't always tell you.
Is Just 7 vegan? Yes. Nothing in Just 7 comes from animals.
Seven ingredients. Zero compromise.
Pre-order now. Orders ship Jan 11th. 7% of every sale goes to animal sanctuaries and nonprofits.†