2025-02-26

Vegan vs. Vegetarian: What’s the Difference?

Taiwan has many vegetarians, and plant-based communities have been growing worldwide in recent years. Do you know what makes them different?

Vegetarian: A diet that excludes meat

Vegetarian is a broad term for plant-based diets. The primary commonality among all vegetarians is the exclusion of meat. Whether it’s Buddhist vegetarianism that allows cooking alongside meat dishes, lacto-ovo vegetarianism, diets that exclude the five pungent vegetables, or even fully plant-based diets—all can be categorized as vegetarian. People choose vegetarianism for various reasons, including animal welfare, religion, environmental concerns, or health considerations.

Vegan: A lifestyle commitment to animal welfare

Strictly speaking, veganism is a form of vegetarianism, but it extends far beyond dietary choices—it is a philosophy centered on respect for all living beings. Their motivation is not religious but rather an ethical stance against the domestication and exploitation of animals in food production.
Beyond the basic principle of not eating meat, vegans also avoid eggs, dairy, honey, and other animal byproducts. This dietary choice isn’t for spiritual practice but rather opposes the forced domestication and harvesting of animals for food production. Therefore, vegans choose not to consume any animal-derived products.
In other aspects, vegans reject everything derived from animals. They don’t wear fur, leather boots, or woolen clothing; they avoid silk products made from silkworm secretions; they don’t purchase pharmaceuticals or beauty products tested on animals; they don’t use beeswax, horse oil, lanolin, or related extracts; and they don’t visit zoos, aquariums, circuses, or animal performances.
Veganism is a lifestyle commitment—not just about food but about considering animals in every detail of daily life.

Are Inna Organic products Vegan or Vegetarian?

Inna Organic has never conducted animal testing on its ingredients. However, customers occasionally ask, “Can vegetarians use Inna Organic products?” The answer is: “All products are suitable for vegetarians, and most products are suitable for vegans!”
With the exception of our Face Cream which contains humanely harvested beeswax extract (making it suitable only for vegetarians), all other products are vegan. We clearly label each product with “Suitable for vegans” or “Suitable for vegetarians” so that our vegan customers can make informed choices. We want to reassure our customers that we prioritize ingredient sourcing—the natural beeswax or beeswax extracts we select are harvested while protecting bees and their hives, preserving bee ecology.

 

Are you interested in a plant-based lifestyle? Welcome to take your first vegan or vegetarian step with Inna Organic’s animal-testing-free skincare products!