Is mother of pearl vegan? Is mother of pearl sustainable? And is mother of pearl ethical? Here are mother of pearl pros and cons: all the info on mother of pearl materials that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Fashion is so cheap and trendy these days we buy stuff even when we don’t ‘need’ it. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure materials accommodate your needs but don’t hurt the planet, animals or others. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on whether mother of pearl is vegan and sustainable.
You are going to learn all about mother of pearl’s impact on animals and the planet. This will include mother of pearl benefits for you regarding the durability, versatility and accessibility of the material. You’ll find out if mother of pearl is sustainable and if mother of pearl is vegan…or maybe even impacts animals in other ways!
After learning if mother of pearl is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you’ll be able to make the best choices you can the next time you shop.
This post is all about asking is mother of pearl vegan and is mother of pearl sustainable…something every ethical shopper must know.
Is Mother Of Pearl Vegan And Sustainable?
Home
Durability: mother of pearl is strong
Versatility: mother of pearl is lustrous and iridescent, often used to make buttons
Affordability: prices may vary
Mother of pearl is…
- Durable
Environment
Fiber source: natural, mother of pearl is made from oysters, abalone or other mollusks
Biodegradable: yes, mother of pearl is biodegradable
Destruction:
Mother of pearl is…
Animals
Kills: oysters, abalone or other mollusks must be killed in order to produce mother of pearl
Harms: oysters, abalone or other mollusks
Indirectly kills or harms: wildlife and ecosystems
Mother of pearl is…
- Not Vegan
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Mother of pearl…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
No. While mother of pearl may come from oysters who are considered “less than” creatures, oysters are still animals, nevertheless. Additionally, oyster fishing is problematic along with all seafood. When done, fisherman harm many living, sea animals, causing them pain and/or death.
Is mother of pearl durable or delicate?
For every 5 garments produced, the equivalent of 3 end up in a landfill or incinerated each year!
One reason for such wastefulness is society’s ever growing desire to acquire. Fast fashion (creating low-priced items at high volumes) is problematic for a number of reasons and promotes the attitude that clothing is nearly disposable.
But another component of such a quick turnaround on clothing is because it’s just not lasting long enough. Snags, stains, warping and shrinkage render items unusable and unacceptable for the donation pile. Avoid such problems by buying better quality, more durable, long lasting materials. Timeless wardrobe favorites that last for years and years are more sustainable and reduce the need for replacements.
Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of textiles burns or goes to landfills…
Keep minimalism in mind and buy less, borrow and buy items second hand. Thrift shops offer many inexpensive, unique finds that have already proven to stand the test of time!
Is mother of pearl sustainable?
No, mother of pearl is not sustainable?
Materials from animals are natural fibers and biodegradable unless heavily treated with chemicals. However, they are not at all eco-friendly or sustainable due to the overwhelming strain on natural resources; the water needed, food needed and land usage that must happen for such abundant amounts of animals to live.
With the high number of animals unnaturally bred onto the planet in the name of human utilization, specifically ruminants (cows, sheep, goats, deer, camels, etc.), they emit high volumes of carbon emissions and contaminate air, soil and water with their waste (excrement). This is also toxic to ecosystems and wildlife.
Animal agriculture is not good for the environment, human health and of course, the animals themselves. Thus, animal derived, non-vegan materials are not only cruel and inhumane but environmentally unsustainable.
That’s not to say that all vegan materials are sustainable. There are many vegan yet unsustainable fabrics, materials and textiles. Most of us don’t realize that washing one synthetic garment releases about 2,000 plastic microfibers which then enter the ocean and food chain…or that 30% of rayon and viscose used in fashion comes from endangered and ancient forests. So because a fabric is vegan it does not necessarily mean that it is sustainable, eco-friendly and so on.
Natural fibers like cotton are actually really harmful IF they are not organic. How? Cotton seeds are often GMOs that require pesticides, which are extremely toxic! In fact, up to 16% of the world’s pesticides go to non-organic, GMO cotton farming every year. The chemicals degrade soil and pollute water as well as poison cotton pickers.
Wow! …So it’s time to start using sustainable fabrics, materials and textiles.
Read more about ‘What Makes Fabric Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Is mother of pearl vegan?
No, mother of pearl is not vegan.
Cows, sheep, alpacas, goats, ducks and foxes are animals commonly subject to exploitation for their skins, hair or feathers. In fact, BILLIONS of them die every single year simply in the name of fashion.
Before buying a pair of shoes, a sweater, a purse, check the materials. Common and unfortunately popular animal-derived materials include leather, suede, fur, feathers, mohair and wool -which often come from places like India and China where there can be NO animal welfare laws or enforcement. If the item does come from a more developed area of the world, such as the United States or Europe, that animal was likely a victim of factory farming. In such overcrowded farms they are confined, diseased and must sometimes live their entire lives indoors, never seeing the light of day.
Material from animals may involve slaughtering like leather and fur production, for instance. But in regards to wool or feathers, animals struggle as they are held down and beaten by workers while sheared or as feathers are ripped from their skin. This leaves them bloody and wounded in pain.
Buying vegan clothing, accessories and household fabrics, materials and textiles ensures that no living being had to suffer or die needlessly. Vegan fashion is trending like never before! According to Grand View Research, “The global synthetic leather market size is expected to reach $40.0 billion dollars (USD) by the year 2027”!
Dressing and decorating vegan is easier than ever with this: Vegan Fabrics, Materials and Textiles List
Does mother of pearl have human rights issues?
Did you know that the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? Whether agriculture involves crops or animals, the labor behind each and every product made from cotton, leather, wool, etc. cannot go unrecognized.
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, sweatshops and child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence. Unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives simply by being mindful to buy items that are certified fair trade.
So, is mother of pearl vegan and sustainable? Mother of pearl is not vegan and is overall unsustainable.
This post was all about answering if mother of pearl is vegan and sustainable.
Sources:
Sew Guide: Fabric glossary
Textile School: Textile fabric types
The Spruce: Types of fabric A to Z: What are you wearing?
Grandview Research: Synthetic Leather Market Worth $40.9 Billion By 2027 | CAGR: 4.4%
