“The new methodology used in our testing is incredibly robust and will offer the supply chain confidence that finished retail product is free from animal components and as such, vegan claims are substantiated.”

A chemical testing company has created an ‘incredibly robust’ verification programme to establish whether any animal products or by-products have been used in the apparel and footwear sector

Eurofins Chem-MAP has developed the programme in partnership with the Vegan Society.

According to the company, the test will give ‘manufacturers, brands, retailers, and consumers the reassurance that vegan product claims have been validated, and the materials used to develop the product have no trace of animal derivatives’.

The certification will be subject to strict guidelines, which go way beyond the concept of a product made from vegan materials implying simply the absence of animal-derived material such as leather, feathers, and fur. 

The test will warrant assurance that every chemical and material used in the production of the product is free of animal-derived elements.

The vegan trademark will only be given to those companies who successfully meet the verification criteria for all product components. 

‘Incredibly robust’

“I have been working with companies on the research and development of vegan products for some time now, and in many cases have discovered animal derivatives in the chemical makeup of dyes and glues within products that are labelled as ‘vegan’,” Chem-MAP technical manager Georgina Mawer said.

“The new Vegan Society registered verification methodology used in our testing is incredibly robust and will offer the supply chain confidence that finished retail product is free from animal components and as such, vegan claims are substantiated.”

 ‘Delighted’

Chantelle Adkins, director of business development at the Vegan Society, added: “We are delighted to have been able to register this test with Eurofins Chem-MAP and to be able to offer our apparel and footwear trademark holders this additional step in reassuring their consumers that their products really are free from animal products, by-products and derivatives.”

Growing vegan trend

More people are ditching animal products altogether in favour of a vegan diet.

This year, the Veganuary campaign had a record-breaking run with more than 525,000 participants partaking and more expected to join as the month ends.

According to the charity, while people taking the plunge have their own unique reasons for swapping to veganism, a growing awareness of meat’s impact on health, animals and the planet is helping change people’s attitude towards food in droves.

Toni Vernelli, Veganuary’s International Head of Communications, said in a statement: “2020 brought much hardship and heartbreak, but it has also given us an opportunity to change and build a better future.”

She added “Veganuary offers people a way to take positive action to protect our health and our planet…

“The huge response we’ve had this year shows it’s exactly what many people need right now.”

• Read: Vegan Society says ‘it is not always possible or practicable to avoid animal use’, amid Covid-19

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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