Exploring Vegan Lube Options in Berlin: A Guide to Compassionate Intimacy Products
Swapping meat for plant-based meals during Veganuary is just the start - extending your vegan lifestyle to intimate experiences can be a meaningful expression of your values. From sex products to kink gear, making intentional choices about vegan sexual health and pleasure items is an often-overlooked aspect of the vegan movement. But what are the challenges?
First, it's not always obvious that everyday bedroom essentials may contain animal-derived ingredients or be tested on animals. Professional dominatrix Miss Flora, a dedicated vegan for over a decade, shares this insight, remarking that even seasoned pros sometimes don't realize non-vegan lubricants exist. Condoms often include casein, a milk protein, while lubricants might contain beeswax or animal-derived glycerin. Leather, a staple in BDSM, poses an ethical dilemma for those seeking cruelty-free experiences. For Miss Flora, maintaining the vegan ethos in the bedroom is about holistic consent, "keeping the products and practices vegan is one part of consent because animals obviously can't give their consent."
The good news? The demand for vegan alternatives is growing, and advocates argue that opting for animal-free ingredients doesn't mean sacrificing quality. Oliver Gothe, managing director of Fair Squared, which has been producing vegan condoms since 2012, insists there's "neither a reason nor a product advantage to use ingredients of animal origin in the formulations of condoms or lubricants." Katie Payne, founder of vegan lubricant brand Vögeln, adds, "Health extends beyond the body - it's about environmental responsibility and ethical choices."
However, vegan options do come with their limitations. One major issue is durability. Leather alternatives often don't last as long as traditional materials. Anjay, founding collective member of Berlin's all-vegan sex shop Other Nature, acknowledges this challenge, saying, "With new materials, it's not the same yet."
There's also the question of feel and functionality. Gur, the creator of vegan kink product brand 4 Angry Dykes, offers insight on the variety of materials available for vegan toys, each with unique sensations. "If it's something one wears, like a harness, cuffs or collar, we might want it to be soft and smooth. If it's impact toys, different materials will create different sensations - stingy or thuddy."
Aesthetic concerns also play a role. Vegan ropes made with natural materials like hemp or bamboo often have irregular coloring or smells, which can be a turnoff for those seeking a uniform look. Sourcing vegan sex products can also be time-consuming and costly. "We work with a lot of singular people. That means a lot more contact than if you just order from a big firm. The products take longer to produce," explains Anjay.
Transitioning to a vegan bedroom life, like any step in a vegan journey, is a process. Mistakes are inevitable, and it's essential to invest in quality products. Miss Flora advises, "The trick is to really spend money and get some really nice vegan products. If you get the cheap fake leather plastic stuff, you're not gonna have fun and it can also cut into the flesh."
As theawareness of vegan sexual health and pleasure products continues to grow, it's clear that our intimate lives are not exempt from the values we hold dear. As Miss Flora puts it, "If we're doing something just for pleasure, we should make sure that no one suffered for our pleasure."
A quick guide to vegan sex essentials:
CONDOMS & DENTAL DAMS: Traditional options often contain casein, a milk protein. Try brands like Einhorn, Fair Squared, or Glyde.
LUBRICANTS: Many lubes contain beeswax or animal-derived glycerin. Check out KlatschNass, UC Berlin, or Vögeln.
SEX TOYS: While usually safe, some toys use non-vegan glues, dyes, or coatings. Look for explicitly vegan products from Fun Factory, ivy.toys, and ROMP.
KINK GEAR: BDSM staples like leather, suede, and silk aren't vegan, but alternatives include latex and rubber floggers, bamboo canes, hemp ropes, and high-quality synthetic leather harnesses. Consider vegan options from 4 Angry Dykes, aTxE_whips, and LASH Fetish Gear.
SHOPS TO EXPLORE: Visit Berlin's fully vegan sex shop Other Nature, as well as shops like gorgeous and Keller Kreuzberg, which offer curated selections of vegan products and production information.
- The growing demand for vegan alternatives signifies that opting for animal-free ingredients in sex products, lubricants, and kink gear doesn't necessitate compromising on quality, as argued by companies like Fair Squared, Vögeln, and 4 Angry Dykes.
- While choosing vegan sexual health and pleasure items, it's essential to be aware of the limitations, such as durability issues with leather alternatives and the unique sensations provided by various materials for sex toys, as pointed out by Anjay and Gur.
- Aesthetic concerns are also relevant when sourcing vegan sex products, as vegan ropes made with natural materials like hemp or bamboo may have irregular coloring or smells, as expresses Anjay.
- Transitioning to a vegan bedroom lifestyle requires careful consideration, investment in quality products, and education about the various vegan options available in the market, as emphasized by Miss Flora and shop owners like Anjay at Other Nature.
