Dear fellow vegans/vegetarians who THOUGHT you were living totally cruelty free....?!

It's just not possible to live totally cruelty free without living in a cave somewhere. Even then it wouldn't be possible because you could accidentally step on a bug. Veganism isn't about perfection, it's about making a real effort to avoid harming animals while still being able to function in modern society.

vegan

1. Plastic Bags
Yikes! Had no idea! I already use reusable fabric grocery bags so I feel good about that. If I forget my bags and have the option to get paper, I will. When it's just a few items (and I've forgotten my bags) I usually just carry them in my hands.

2. Car And Bike Tires
I knew about tires. I wish companies would change this. I like the list supplied. I'm definitely going to try to always demand Michelin or Kenda from now on.

3. Glue in Wood Work and Musical Instruments
I knew about glue and violins. I didn't know about pianos. I would try and find vegan musical options here, but if I couldn't I would bite the bullet and buy it anyway since again, it's hard to be 100% vegan.

4. Biofuels
I knew about this. Hopefully this will change someday. But that seems like something out of the hands of individuals.

5. Fireworks
That's really sad :( I LOVE fireworks. I don't usually buy them though. It's been years since I've bought them myself.

6. Fabric Softener
I either use a vegan brand or don't use it. Mostly I just don't use it. I have vegan & green detergents too. I also make my own dryer sheets with a vinegar and lavendar essential oil mix too.

7. Shampoo & Conditioner
I cycle through vegan brands like Giovanni, Avalon Organics, Say YES To Carrots, etc.

8. Toothpaste
I use Tom's of Maine toothpaste, mouthwash, and deodorant!

9. White and Brown Sugar
I buy vegan sugars or beet sugar. I'm sure I'm not avoiding it completely because it's pretty hard to find out all that information (since some companies won't give it out), but I try to the best of my ability. That's all anyone can ask for.

Vegan

The Perfect Vegan is a myth. We live in a society that uses animal products, whether we like it or not. In my daily walk I try to avoid animal cruelty as much as possible, without going crazy, but I am well aware that there's going to be some product that I use that I'm unaware of.

The concept of being The Perfect Vegan is so intimidating to people, that they never even try. I say, why not go ahead and try? No one's perfect, but you're contribution does matter--and it makes you feel better.

I'm not saying you have to go way out of your way to avoid these things, but if you want to, here's how:

1. Plastic Bags
--Opt for paper bags when you can, and avoid products that come wrapped in plastic. It's not good for you to eat plastic-wrapped foods anyway.

2. Car And Bike Tires
--The simplest solution is not to own a car or bike. Walking and public transportation work just fine. However, not everyone wants to go through that "hassle." The article provided a list of companies that make vegan bike tires which would make living without a car even easier.

3. Glue in Wood Work and Musical Instruments
--see sources

4. Biofuels
--Again, public transportation, walking, and biking FTW.

5. Fireworks
--Don't buy your own, just go to the shows. It's only once or twice a year (which is good, they're horrid for the environment no matter how you do it.)

6. Fabric Softener
--I use Seventh Generation, but I'm sure there are more vegan products. They also make a ton of other household cleaning products, as well as diapers and female things (although if you really want to go green with that, you'd get a silicone menstrual cup.) I know a few products--like the softener sheets--are made with whey, but for the most part they are vegan and nothing is tested on animals.
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

7. Shampoo & Conditioner
I use Giovanni products. Made with no animal byproducts, not tested on animals, and they work fabulously. Oh, and did I mention they're organic? you may also want to consider what soaps and lotions you're using. Actually, almost all personal care products should be questioned. here are links to some of the brands I use, as well as an article explaining how to use baking soda for all these things when you are feeling frugal.
http://www.giovannihaircare.co.nz/index.…
http://www.avalonorganics.com/
http://www.albabotanica.com/
http://kissmyface.com/
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/care2/4/40-f…

8. Toothpaste
I use Tom's of Maine toothpaste and mouthwash. Vegan, not tested on animals, plus very green and from a company with admirable moral standards. Their floss isn't vegan (beeswax) so I just use regular unwaxed floss and hope it's vegan. (If anyone knows otherwise, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.) Tom's of Maine also makes great deodorant and bar soap.
http://www.tomsofmaine.com/home

9. White and Brown Sugar
this one is really hard to avoid. So hard to avoid, in fact, that people who do are usually classified as "sugar vegans." You can avoid it by buying unrefined cane sugar, plant sugars, or from companies that use bone-char-free sugar. Odds are, you'll have to make a LOT of stuff from scratch, but anything certified vegan by vegan action will be bone-char-free as well.
http://www.veganproducts.org/sugar.html
http://www.vegan.org/campaigns/certifica…

The article lists several solutions, as does this article: http://www.vegansoapbox.com/dont-throw-o…