If you are looking to learn more about international vegan products or are a business, distributor, or manufacturer wanting to enter this market, you have likely heard about The Vegan Society and their Vegan Trademark. So what is The Vegan Society? And why is their certification so important?
About The Vegan Society
There are many organizations related to veganism around the world, but the most prominent and long-standing among them is The Vegan Society – a vegan social charity founded in 1944 in the UK. The founder of this organization was Donald Watson, a pacifist who loved animals and also coined the term “vegan”.
The Vegan Society has its headquarters in the UK and offices around the world. It is a non-profit organization that campaigns to raise awareness of animal rights while promoting a vegan lifestyle. The Vegan Society aims to convey the benefits of a lifestyle that does not use any animal products, including milk and dairy products.
The birth of Vegan Trademark
As the world’s oldest international vegan non-profit organization, The Vegan Society has a relatively strong position and voice in the vegan community. Therefore, the Vegan Trademark, launched by the organization in 1990, has also gained recognition from consumers worldwide.
A product bearing Vegan Trademark certified by The Vegan Society means that the product has undergone a rigorous inspection process and is confirmed to be completely free of animal ingredients and not tested on animals. This helps consumers easily identify and trust that the product meets all ethical and environmental standards. Currently, the vegan label is present on more than 70,000 products worldwide, in almost all business markets from cosmetics, clothing, food, beverages to everyday household items.
Benefits of Vegan Trademark
Support from The Vegan Society
The Vegan Society has a global network of vegan businesses, so when a business receives the Vegan Trademark certification, it also becomes part of this network and is connected to others.
Beyond building a cross-border support network, The Vegan Society also provides information and guidance to help businesses improve their services and products in the most vegan way possible, while also helping businesses promote their products and services through the organization’s media channels.
Increasing credibility
A product or service bearing Vegan Trademark means that it has undergone rigorous evaluation and review by The Vegan Society and has been certified as meeting vegan standards in terms of both ethical and environmental values. Consumers know this when they see the trademark on a product or service, which gives them added peace of mind. A bridge of trust between businesses and consumers is formed.
Expanding the business market
The vegan market is a vast market not only in Vietnam but also worldwide. Therefore, owning an international vegan certification is like a visa that can help businesses bring their products and services to the global market, even stepping into demanding markets such as Europe, the US, and the UK – where The Vegan Society’s Vegan certification is highly regarded.
Vegan Trademark standards
Along with the benefits, this certification also has specific requirements to become part of The Vegan Society community. Accordingly, Vegan Trademark is renewed annually, and if a business wants to obtain certification, it must understand the following definitions and criteria:
Animals
For vegans, “animals” refers to the entire animal kingdom, including both vertebrates and multicellular invertebrates. In other words, it refers to all animal species other than humans.
Animal ingredients
The production and development of products, or product ingredients, must not be related or even previously related to the use of any animal products or by-products.
Animal testing
The production and development of products, or product ingredients, must not be related or even previously related to any animal testing.
Kitchen hygiene and food safety standards
Vegan dishes must be prepared separately from non-vegan dishes. Cooking utensils should be thoroughly cleaned before use to avoid the risk of cross-contamination from non-vegan sources in the kitchen or production line. Of course, to minimize this risk, businesses should prepare a separate set of sanitary utensils.
Conclusion
The Vegan Trademark certification from The Vegan Society is one of the most trusted international vegan certifications among consumers today, especially in the US and UK markets. So, don’t miss out on this certification if you are looking for a product, service, or want to develop in the vegan market.