Are Vapes Vegan? Your Questions Answered
Michael Kannes
12/01/2026 • 5 min readAsking whether a product is vegetarian or vegan is quite popular these days, and we think it’s a valid question! After all, many products you wouldn’t expect, like some wines, sweets, or even crisps, can contain animal-derived ingredients. So, we understand that if you’re vegan or considering going vegan, the question “Are vapes vegan?” is bound to cross your mind.
As the interest in veganism grows, many are also exploring the concept of vaping vegan, ensuring that their vaping habits align with their ethical values. So, let’s dive into everything you need to know about vaping and veganism.
Understanding Veganism and Vaping
Defining Veganism
Veganism is more than just a diet; it’s a lifestyle choice that aims to eliminate all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals. This means avoiding animal-derived ingredients in food and all products, including e-liquids and vaping devices. For those committed to a vegan lifestyle, it’s essential to ensure that their vaping habits align with their values.
This involves choosing e-liquids that are free from animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals. By doing so, vegans promote compassion, sustainability, and animal welfare in every puff they take.
The Importance of Cruelty-Free Choices
For vegans, making cruelty-free choices is a cornerstone of their lifestyle, and this extends to vaping. Selecting e-liquids and vaping devices that are free from animal-derived ingredients and have not undergone animal testing is crucial. By opting for cruelty-free vaping products, vegans can support a more ethical and sustainable vaping industry.
This aligns with their values and contributes to a more responsible and compassionate vaping community. So, when choosing your next vape juice, remember that cruelty-free options are not just better for animals, they’re better for everyone.
The Basic Question: Are Vapes Vegan?
Yes, vapes are generally vegan. The key components of a vape, like the e-liquid (also known as vape juice), the hardware, and even the vapour itself, generally don’t contain animal-derived ingredients. However, there are some exceptions, and knowing what to look for is worth it.
Most e-liquids are made from a mix of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavourings, and, sometimes, nicotine. These components are typically synthetic or plant-derived, making the liquid vegan and free from animal involvement. However, depending on the brand, some flavourings, sweeteners, or colourings might include animal products.
If you’re strict about your vegan lifestyle, it’s always best to check the labels or go for brands that clearly label their products as vegan-friendly.
Check out the e-liquids on FREESMO.co.uk, and let us know how important a vegan certificate is for you when it comes to vaping. Write to us.
Evaluating Brand Practices
How to Determine if a Vape Brand Is Vegan
Navigating the world of vaping as a vegan can be tricky, but knowing what to look for can make it easier. Here are some tips to help you determine if a vape brand is vegan:
- Vegan certification: Look for brands that have obtained vegan certification from reputable organisations like the Vegan Society or PETA. This certification ensures that the products are free from animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals.
- Ingredient transparency: Choose brands that provide clear and detailed information about their e-liquid ingredients and manufacturing processes. Transparency is key to ensuring that no hidden animal-derived ingredients are lurking in your vape juice.
- Animal testing policies: Verify that the brand does not conduct animal testing on their products or ingredients. Ethical brands will often proudly state their cruelty-free status.
- Vegan-friendly ingredients: Ensure the brand uses vegan-friendly ingredients, such as vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, in their e-liquids. These ingredients are typically plant-based and do not involve animal products.
- Brand values and mission: Research the brand’s values and mission to ensure they align with vegan principles and promote animal welfare. Brands committed to ethical practices often highlight their dedication to sustainability and cruelty-free products.
By evaluating these factors, you can make informed choices about the vape brands you support and ensure that your vaping habits align with your vegan lifestyle.
If We’re Not That Strict: Are Vapes Vegetarian?
If you’re wondering, “Are vapes vegetarian?” the answer is almost always yes. Since vegetarianism usually excludes meat but allows for animal by-products like dairy or honey, the chances of your vape conflicting with a vegetarian lifestyle are very slim.
While it’s rare, some e-liquids might use flavourings derived from animal by-products, like honey flavour that actually contains honey extracts. But these are exceptions, and many reputable brands avoid using such ingredients. Again, checking labels or choosing plant-based vapes is the safest bet for those adhering to a plant-based diet.
Is Smoking Vegan?
This might surprise you, but smoking isn’t always vegan. While you might think tobacco is just a plant, the process of making cigarettes can involve animal-derived products, raising the question: Are cigarettes vegan? Some cigarette brands use ingredients like beeswax in the filters or test their products on animals, which goes against vegan principles. Even beyond the ingredients, the environmental and ethical issues tied to the tobacco industry (like deforestation and exploitation) don’t sit well with many people pursuing a vegan lifestyle.
Switching to vaping, especially choosing particularly vegan e-liquids, not only helps reduce harm to your well-being, but also can align better with vegan values. Plus, vaping is estimated to be 95% less harmful than smoking, according to Public Health England. That’s a win-win!
Is Tobacco Vegan?
Technically, tobacco is vegan. It’s a plant, after all. But just because something is plant-based doesn’t mean it fits with a vegan lifestyle. Nicotine, derived from tobacco plants, is technically vegan, but the production process can involve animal-derived ingredients and animal testing, as we mentioned above. And, again, the tobacco industry has a long history of ethical concerns that many vegans find hard to overlook. Veganism isn’t just about avoiding animal products. It’s about treating all living creatures with respect and care.
If you aim for a more ethical, plant-based lifestyle, switching from tobacco to plant-based vapes is a step in the right direction. It helps you avoid the harmful chemicals in cigarettes and aligns better with a cruelty-free lifestyle.
What Is Vegan E-Liquid?
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s discuss vegan e-liquids. These vape juices contain no animal-derived ingredients and haven’t been tested on animals. Many e-liquids are already vegan by default, using ingredients like vegetable glycerine. Vegetable glycerine is a colourless, odourless liquid with a slightly sweet taste. It is plant-based, suitable for vegans, and commonly used in food products like frozen yoghurt. Some brands go the extra mile to label their products as vegan-friendly.
When shopping for vegan e-liquid, look out for:
- Certified vegan labels: Some brands proudly display vegan certifications on their packaging.
- Transparent ingredient lists: Avoid animal-derived flavourings like honey, dairy-based cream flavours, or certain food colourings (like carmine, which comes from insects).
- No animal testing: Ethical brands often state that their products haven’t been tested on animals.
A wide variety of plant-based vapes are available, offering everything from fruity flavours to dessert-inspired options without compromising your values.
Final Puff: The Vegan Verdict on Vaping
So, are vapes vegan? For the most part, yes! Although some e-liquids may sneak in animal-derived ingredients or flavourings, most vapes are free from animal products. If you’re vegan or just trying to live a more ethical lifestyle, vaping is a much better alternative to smoking, both for your health and your values, and it fits well with a vegan diet.
Switching to vegan-friendly vaping can help you gradually reduce your nicotine intake, with the ultimate goal of quitting altogether. And with so many plant-based vapes and vegan e-liquids available, you won’t have to compromise on flavour or ethics. If you’re ready to leave cigarettes behind, vaping could be your perfect stepping stone, not just to a smoke-free life, but maybe even a nicotine-free one, too!
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