Tiny Choices Q&A: Condoms?
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | August 11, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
MZ asks:
What about condoms…which ones are better for the environment?
I thought this would be a fun question to answer… little did I know I would uncover an unsettling question I would need to ask you, my vegan buddy, and all you vegan readers out there: “Are you having sex with animals?”
I’ve just learned that condoms are not a cruelty-free product. The processing of latex, used to make condoms, has involved the use of casein - a milk protein. As Lifestyles Condoms writes in their FAQ: Many condoms, including some of ours, also have a trace amount of casein, which originates from milk. And not only are most condoms not vegan but they also, predictably, don’t really biodegrade (due to the lubricants and the landfills), which is leaving us with a surplus of condoms.
(As an aside, here’s an incredible, and false, urban legend that’s too good not to share:)
A few years ago in the South Pacific, a vast ‘reef’ of condoms was found floating, slowly and gracefully, in the general direction of Antarctica. The super condom reef is over two miles long and in places up to 60 foot deep. A local oceanography said parts of the reef are so dense “you could almost land a plane on it.”
I found a single solution to the casein-in-your-condom problem:
- Condomi is one of the only condom lines that are casein-free and suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans
- …the range from German manufacturer Condomi utilises cocoa powder instead and has been awarded the Vegan Society’s seal of approval….no longer will vegans have to suppress their natural instinct to make love not war.”
They are available for our British readers here. The German website is here, but as far as I can tell they don’t sell them in the U.S. So to answer your question… it appears that I don’t have an answer to your question. Unless you have a German or UK connection, please proceed as before, pretending you never read this post. Or perhaps consider another form of birth control. But don’t, please don’t, recycle or flush your condoms-just toss them.
UPDATE!
Big props to Stacey for pointing out vegan Glyde condoms: “because GLYDE condoms contain no animal bi-products, they are suitable for vegans to use.” Available online at veganessentials.com.
Condoms are a small environmental price to pay for preventing the large environmental impact of another human being on this planet. And in addition to preventing unplanned pregnancies, latex condoms (not lambskin condoms) play the single most important role in helping to prevent the spread of STDs. Just in terms of environmental impact, think about it-treating fewer STDs means less medical waste, less animal testing, less shipping of drugs… So keep rolling them on, sister!
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Topics: Q&A | 14 Comments »
14 Comments
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Hmmm…. I thought Kimono were cruelty-free, too.
One way I deal with sticky issues like this is to buy from a locally owned shop that I support. I know I can buy Kimonos at my co-op. They may cost a bit more, but at least I’m supporting the co-op, regardless of any environmental issues that may come up.
And, on a related note, there are many vegan, eco-friendlyish personal lubricants available - in case you were wondering.
Hmm, I found some sites that mentioned Kimono-brand being not tested on animals (which I can’t verify), but nothing about them being vegan. The Vegan Society doesn’t mention it, either, which doesn’t necessarily mean anything…
Then again, the International Vegan Society says that Kimono condoms are vegan. Wish they had something on their own website to dis/prove this…
Ummmm, okay, so according to veganessentials.com, the store that sells them, glyde condoms are vegan, too:
“It has been some time since vegan condoms were available, and we’re glad to have found Glyde condoms, imported from Australia! Made without the dairy proteins often found in most condoms and created without animal testing, these are manufactured from the highest quality natural latex to the most exacting standards so you’re getting an extremely reliable product. Available in the following varieties: Ultra (standard condom), Ultra X-Large, Strawberry flavored, Wildberry flavored, and Vanilla flavored. All condoms are lubricated. Each type comes in packs of 12 for $6.95.”
…for what it’s worth - not really an issue for me, but for others…
Stacey, you rock. I’ve updated the post to reflect the Glyde condoms. You are hereby hired as a pro-bono research assistant. Congratulations!
Thanks (I am a former researcher) but, I do need to point out that my info came from a website selling the glyde condoms, and not an impartial or trustworthy source.
As linked to above: the Glyde website wherein they declare themselves vegan-friendly.
Lot of good stuff said (although never really understood the flavour thing!) but whatever the provenance of condoms the positive environmental impact is birth control helps keep the population in check - the majority of environmental threats to the planet can be sourced back to ‘over population’
There is also the sensual vegan: http://www.thesensualvegan.com.
Thanks, Sangu! That’s a great resource. Also, they’re totally making tiny choices:
“The Sensual Vegan has found a new shipping box that has more recycled content than the last ones. The new boxes are made of 60-100% post-consumer recycled material, and are also easy to reuse because of their tabbed design.”
Good answer! Thanks for pointing out the larger environmental benefit (less medical waste) of protecting oneself against STDs. That’s a great way to look at the issue of the environmental impact of condoms.
Your friend,
a public health professional
If you are using condoms only for birth control, and not for std protection, do consider Fertility Awareness. I think it was given short shrift in the link, above, that discusses birth control choices. It’s 100% vegan, environmentally super-friendly, and it works (97-99% effective when used perfectly). It’s also free! (after the initial cost of instruction). FA is easy to practice but does take time to learn. Please obtain professional instruction. Of course FA can also be used in conjunction with condoms - knowing when you’re fertile will enable you to play safer. All methods fail, including condoms. Having a condom fail on a non-fertile day is a whole different ball of wax than having it fail on an infertile day. Know the difference. Learn about your body. Free yourself from the pharmaceutical companies. Making love shouldn’t hurt the planet. (And yes, Fertility Awareness can also be used by women wishing to achieve pregnancy. Same methodology, different rules. No need to pee on a disposable stick.)
[...] Green LA Girl’s talks about condoms… and if you think that’s not a green topic, let us school you… [...]
RFSU condoms from Sweden are also Vegan, and come in four varieties/fits.
Available from ozonecondoms.com as well as other condom distributors.