Ethical consumerism: Veganism

Abstract

In this article, we review an array of positions in the contemporary literature that concern the moral reasons for vegan consumerism. We situate veganism within the broader field of ethical consumerism, present a variety of motivations and justifications for veganism, and discuss criticisms of vegan consumerism. The arguments presented in the article ultimately pertain to the question of whether concerns for animals, human rights, or climate justice entail strong moral reasons to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Additionally, we address issues of particular relevance for political philosophy, such as whether organized vegan consumer campaigns are a politically legitimate means to strive for structural change. We hope to show that there are anthropocentric, as well as animal‐centered, reasons that speak in favor of radically reformed human–animal relations, including diets that are at least predominantly plant‐based. This article is categorized under: Climate, Nature, and Ethics > Ethics and Climate Change

Exploring ethical consumption of generation Z: theory of planned behaviour

“…Ethical consumers have political, religious, spiritual, environmental, social or other motives for choosing one product over another (Harrison et al, 2005). This includes products focused on animal welfare, the environment, human rights and fair trade (Beck and Ladwig, 2021). This form of consumerism serves for ethical action based on subjective moral judgments applied to individual products/brands across the production, consumption, and disposition cycle (Brunk, 2010).…”

Does fairness matter? Consumers' perception of fairness in the agro-food chain

“…Fairtrade, (n.d.); Rozin et al, 2004;Shaw et al, 2005;Korzen et al, 2011;Konuk, 2017;Food Ethics Council, 2020;Czeczotko et al, 2021;FAO, 2021 Guarantee animal welfare Grumett, 2019;Nawroth et al, 2019;Swaffield et al, 2019;Food Ethics Council, 2020;Höglund, 2020;Beck and Ladwig, 2021;FAO, 2021;Reis et al, 2021 Be vegan Alvaro, 2017;Beck and Ladwig, 2021 Be organic Shaw et al, 2005;Chang and Lusk, 2009;Aprile et al, 2012;Bartels and Onwezen, 2014;Konuk, 2017;Czeczotko et al, 2021;Winterstein and Habisch, 2021 Include Fair Trade products Nguyen and Klaus, 2013 Guarantee soil protection Fairtrade, (n.d.); de Olde and Valentinov, 2019;Peano et al, 2019;Zimmerer et al, 2019;Czeczotko et al, 2021;FAO, 2021 Guarantee sustainable packaging FAO, 2021 disadvantaged people should be guaranteed (Fairtrade, (n.d.); FAO, 2021). Any kind of discrimination, be it gender, marital status or ethnicity, should be avoided (Fairtrade, (n.d.); Food Ethics Council, 2020).…”

How barriers towards plant-based food consumption differ according to dietary lifestyle: Findings from a consumer survey in 10 EU countries

“…The steadiness and extent of the change rather reveals a societal trend in the demand for foods with a recommended profile (Noguerol et al, 2021), and foods of more natural and plant origin (Aschemann-Witzel et al, 2020;Asioli et al, 2017). Moreover, this societal trend encompasses norm violation of cultural habits (Hielkema and Lund, 2021;Reipurth et al, 2019), new ethical and political considerations (Beck and Ladwig, 2021;Bernstein and Dutkiewicz, 2021;Dickstein et al, 2020;Macallan, 2022), and the deconstruction of lay beliefs about what women and men should, or are allowed to, eat (de Gavelle et al, 2019;Eker et al, 2019;Krige et al, 2018;Varraso et al, 2019;Wozniak et al, 2020). As such, vegan men (in a plant-exclusive diet) challenge the stereotypical image of men in risky behaviours, and rather exemplify more conscious and healthier expressions of masculinity (Aavik and Velgan, 2021;Banyte et al, 2022).…”