A Spotlight on Vegan Companies and Businesses
throughout the United States and a few beyond - updated May 2006
by M. 'Butterflies' Katz
co-author of Incredibly Delicious; Recipes for a New Paradigm
by Gentle World www.gentleworld.org
| International Vegetarian Union (IVU) | |
|
|
|
A Spotlight on Vegan Companies and Businesses throughout the United States and a few beyond - updated May 2006 by M. 'Butterflies' Katz co-author of Incredibly Delicious; Recipes for a New Paradigm by Gentle World www.gentleworld.org |
|
|
|
|
Almost Vegan Companies: Arbonne International has been in business 26 years and all products are considered cruelty-free, and nearly all of their 300+ products are vegan. Certification by Vegan.org of each product began in 2005 and is currently ongoing. (Vegan certification requires that each finished product is vegan, AND each product and every ingredient used in each product has never been tested on animals.) Arbonne has never done animal testing, and all clinical trials are conducted only on willing human subjects. VEGAN Products include: NutriMinC RE9 AntiAging Swiss-formulated Skin Care for Women, NutriMenC AntiAging Swiss-formulated Skin Care for Men, Unwind, Awaken and Reactivate Aromassentials, Color Cosmetics, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hand Cream, Body Lotion, RE9 AntiAging Body Lotion, Vanish Cellulite System. Arbonne International is a member of the Direct Selling Association, and utilizes network marketing as its distribution method. It has been in existence in the USA since 1980, and is a leader in recyclable packaging. Arbonne's proprietary Swiss formulations contain no mineral oil, petroleum byproducts, or synthetic dyes or chemical fragrances. Arbonne has won awards from Friends of the Environment and Beauty Without Cruelty, and is listed in the American Anti-Vivisection Society Guide and PETA's Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide. "Arbonne International offers vegetarian or vegan meal options at its regional and national training conferences. As an Independent Consultant and Executive District Manager with Arbonne, I offer exclusively vegan foods at my district trainings. Many of the members of my team are vegetarian or vegan. I have been vegan for 10 years." says Dr. Kerrie Saunders PhD. She adds," I am specifically looking for other vegans who would like to set up an ethical independent business, to join my Team. Will train." Dr. Saunders PhD clarifies, "Arbonne founder and CEO are different. Although the company products are nearly all vegan, I have no personal knowledge of their diet or lifestyle. There are approximately 600,000 independent consultants internationally." Independent Consultant: Dr.
Kerrie Saunders PhD, 10433323 Address: 6805 E. Sanilac, Port Sanilac,
MI. 48469 Auromere Ayurvedic Imports is run by a nonprofit organization, and all the staff is vegetarian, but not vegan. All the products sold are vegan, except for a newly introduced neem balm, which contains beeswax. They offer 4 varieties of herbal toothpaste, Ayurvedic soap in two varieties, Ayurvedic massage oil, Auromere Herbomineral Rejuvenating Mudbath, 3 varieties of Ayurvedic Shampoos, Pre-Shampoo Conditioner, and Aromatherapy Incense (24 varieties). The company was started back in 1976, selling incense and spiritual books from India as a way to fund the programs of the parent nonprofit organization. The product line soon expanded to include ayurvedic products. The directors feel strongly that India has a deep wisdom in it's spiritual and ayurvedic heritage that can immensely benefit and balance the materialistic tendencies of the west, particularly the U.S. The company is fully run by volunteers who are all vegetarian. All the proceeds from Auromere go to support nonprofit yoga activities in the U.S. and India, particularly Auroville, the international city of human unity, in South India. Auromere Ayurvedic Imports
is located at 2621 W. Hwy. 12, Lodi, CA. 95242 Dr. Bronner s Magic Soaps sells mostly vegan products. The only products that are not vegan are the lip balm and Body/Tattoo balm, which contain beeswax. The president of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is a vegan for many years. Not all of the staff is vegan. The company has been producing soaps since the late 1940's. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (bars and liquid) is a tried an true recipe hailing back to pre W.W.2 Germany. It's a vegan soap, made with all organic oils of the highest quality. It is the #1 selling natural soap in the U.S. Another product offered is Alpsnacks (5 flavors). They are a gluten, wheat, and dairy-free snack made of organic ingredients including fruits, nuts and organic hemp nuts. Dr. Bronner s also produce Sun Dog's Organic Lotion: The first and only organic lotion on the market today, made with no synthetics, or chemicals. In total over the last five years, Dr. Bronner's charitable gifting to social and environmental causes has roughly matched their total after-tax income, and they intend to keep doing so as circumstances allow. The over 30,000 words spread
across all the soap labels were Dr. Bronner's life work of searching every
religion and philosophy for Full Truths that can be summed up in two beautiful
sentences: In following these principles, the Bronner family gives much of its profits to "Human Projects" all over Spaceship Earth. Dr. Bronner would be happy to know the business is running better and more socially responsible than ever under the direction of his son David Bronner. The company finds animal testing simply inhumane and greatly supports industrial hemp advocacy. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is
located at P.O. Box 28, Escondido, CA. 92033. JASON Natural Products features a line of 100% Vegetarian products. They do have a couple lip balms that are made with beeswax, so out of 300+ products, 99% of them are also Vegan. JASON Natural Products is a subsidiary of the Hain Celestial Group, Inc. The quantity of vegan employees is not known. Since 1959, JASON Natural Products has been the leading purveyor of pure and natural products for skin, body, hair and oral health for the whole family, giving consumers effective, environmentally-friendly alternatives to mass-produced, synthetic chemical products. JASON is committed to creating distinctive, pampering products that delight the senses, soothe the soul, respect the planet and animals, and promote health and well being in our daily lives. Fortunately for us, nature has provided an abundance of plants, roots, flowers and herbs rich in vitamins, enzymes, proteins, minerals and other biologically active compounds that have been used in the care of the body, skin and hair for centuries. Knowledge of the healing power of herbs and their special effects on the skin is used in the formulation of every product. "Since our inception in 1959, JASON has strived to produce only pure, carefully balanced products that contain the highest quality, naturally sourced ingredients, known to be skin compatible and proven effective. Our products contain the finest food-grade, natural, organic and nutritional ingredients that deliver topical benefits to the hair and skin" explains a representative of Jason Natural Products. JASON Natural Products is located
in Culver City, CA 90232 Edward and Son's Trading Co. produces all vegetarian products, but has one item that is not vegan. They sell 99% vegan products. The company owner is vegetarian. In business since 1978, they market an assortment of food items such as soup in a cup, vegan and organic candy, a line of sauces including vegan worcestershire sauce with no anchovies, etc. EDWARD & SONS, PO BOX 1326,
CARPINTERIA, CA. 93014 Ecover tells us: "All but ONE of our products make the Vegan Society's List. (The Herbal Dish Liquid contains milk whey, a bi-product of the cheese production process.)" Ecover has been in business for 25 years and they offer 21 VEGAN products, including Laundry Powders and Liquids, Automatic Dish Powders and Lemon Aloe Dishwashing Liquids for hand washing, Rinse Aid for the dishwasher, Non-Chlorine Bleach, Delicate Wash for hand washing and machine washing delicates, Fabric Softener, a Stain Remover Stick, household cleaners; including All Purpose Cleaner, Cream Scrub, Glass and Surface Cleaner, Lime scale Remover, Floor Soap and a Toilet Cleaner. Note: Our Liquid Laundry Soaps, Delicate Wash and Fabric Softener are all low-sudsing and suitable for front-loading machines. Ecover was started as a small soap company in Belgium. Their goal is to provide an alternative solution to conventional cleaning products by using safe ingredients at a minimal cost to the environment. All of their products (except the Dish Tablets and Non-Chlorine Bleach ) are made in their own ecological factory in Belgium. Every possible measure was taken to be sure the factory was as eco as possible: a green roof for insulation, wood from sustainable forests, our own water filtration system, and bricks made from coal mine waste. Ecover, Inc., PO Box 911058,
Commerce, CA. 90091 Phone: 800 449 4925 Fabulous Furs sells 100% fake fur. The owner, Donna, is not a vegan and most of the staff is not vegan. They tell us, "We are the world's leading retailer and catalog retailer with faux fur. We love providing an animal-friendly alternative." The company has been in business for 17 years and they offer hundreds of fake fur fashion products and other animal-friendly items for the home. They also sell about 4 wool items, and thus, are not a vegan company. They are included because they offer an alternative to fur. Donna Salyers, President and founder of Fabulous-Furs, explains how it all began, "Inspiration for Fabulous-Furs came over a decade ago when I was on my way to purchase a mink coat. On my car radio, Paul Harvey described kittens being skinned to become 'mink' teddy bears. Instead of buying a coat that day, I was inspired to create a luxurious alternative. Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Fabulous-Furs would evolve into fine ready-to-wear, attracting a clientele of high-profile, internationally recognized celebrities. As a real-life Cinderella, it's fabulous to see our guilt-free products in movies, on TV and Broadway. It's gratifying to know that our products, in providing a luxurious alternative to real animal fur, bring joy to people all over the world, and at the same time, make unnecessary the destruction of countless animals." Located at 25 W. Robbins Street,
Covington, KY. 41011. Phone: (859) 291-3300 Karyn's Fresh Corner and Karyn's Cooked sells mostly vegan food, but they do use some honey. Most of the products they sell are vegan, they say, however they do sell a few products using gelatin capsules, etc. Karyn Calabrese does not eat meat, chicken, fish, eggs or dairy. The staff are not required to be vegan. Karyn's carries many vegan items: grocery, dehydrated foods, personal care products, supplements, and menu items from the two restaurants. Karyn had been a vegetarian for 12 years, but this was merely a first step leading towards a completely raw food diet. To make this more feasible, Karyn opened her raw-foods restaurant, Karyn's Fresh Corner, which was a thriving success. A few months ago, her restaurant moved to a bigger location and was renamed Karyn's. Karyn's Fresh Corner, 1901
N. Halsted St., Chicago Il, 60614 |
