At Luna Bags, we often call ourselves a sustainable and cruelty-free startup. The line sounds great, but what exactly does it mean to be cruelty free?
The term cruelty-free refers to engaging with practices that avoid harming or killing animals in any manner. For example, our brand uses plant-based leather and recycled plastic in our bags. This way we avoid incorporating animal-based materials to create cruelty-free products.
Why is it important to be cruelty free?
While there is a growing population of people pursuing vegetarian or vegan lifestyles, most consumers still eat or use animal products. If the majority of us aren’t vegan, why should we push for products made from alternative materials?
A few reasons why:
Fur farming: This is the practice of capturing, breeding, and raising animals like foxes and minks for their fur. They are often used to produce fur coats, hats, gloves, and more. However, obtaining fur from these living beings requires killing them. In addition, fur farmers tend to keep foxes and minks in cramped and unsanitary cages. These living conditions have been observed to cause extreme stress, behavioral disorders like self-mutilation, and often inhumane deaths outside of the harvesting itself.
Live plucking: The practice of removing down feathers from living birds to produce insulation for products such as jackets and bedding. The most common species used are ducks and geese. During the process they endure pain, bleeding, and open wounds. From time to time, birds could end up with broken wings while attempting to avoid workers.
Environmental impact: Animal-based materials require large amounts of land, water, and feed. Cows are known to take up acres and produce a significant amount of methane gas - a gas known to negatively impact our atmosphere. Leather tanning and other chemical treatments also pollute ecosystems which harm workers and communities.
What you can do as a consumer:
Choosing to purchase cruelty-free products or support cruelty-free businesses like Luna Bags means you are redirecting engagement away from organizations that actively use these practices. It is also a lot more eco-friendly to use plant-based or alternative materials which benefits our environment. Here are a few more actions you can do as a consumer to encourage living cruelty-free:
Advocate for stronger animal welfare laws by contacting your local representatives.
Shop consciously by looking for cruelty-free certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard..
Educate yourself and others about the hidden cruelty in fashion and beyond. We highly encourage you to do your own research.
As a consumer, you have the power to change the world one purchase at a time. Speak up not just for yourself, but for our furry and feathered friends who can’t speak on their behalf. If you would like to learn more about similar topics, subscribe to hear new updates below.
We are committed to producing and using goods that are cruelty-free and sustainable
We’ve all seen luxury items like alligator skin bags or fox fur coats. While they may be stylish to some, these products come at a serious ethical and environmental cost: animal cruelty.
As someone who is committed to a cruelty-free lifestyle, I founded Luna Bags to produce bags made from animal-free materials such as recycled plastic and renewable plant-based fabrics.
Why We Care
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Fur farming involves keeping animals like foxes and minks in cramped, unsanitary cages. According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, this can lead to extreme stress, behavioral disorders like self-mutilation, and often inhumane deaths.
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Live plucking for down feathers can cause significant suffering. Ducks and geese endure pain, bleeding, broken wings, and open wounds all for products like jackets and bedding (Four Paws in the US).
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Environmental impact: Animal-based materials require large amounts of land, water, and feed. Leather tanning and other chemical treatments also pollute ecosystems which harm workers and communities.
What We Can Do
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Advocate for stronger animal welfare laws by contacting your local representatives.
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Shop consciously by looking for cruelty-free certifications like the Global Organic Textile Standard.
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Educate yourself and others about the hidden cruelty in fashion and beyond. We highly encourage you to do your own research.
At Luna Bags, we’re proud to use recycled plastics and plant-based materials to create sustainable, cruelty-free backpacks, totes, and more.
Every purchase is a step toward a more ethical and compassionate world for our furry and feathered companions.
