The terms vegan and sustainable are not to be mistaken for being the same; what is vegan may not always be sustainable and what is sustainable may not always be vegan. A vegan brand will be strictly cruelty-free and will not use the following list of animal-based/derived materials in their products : Leather, Fur, Sheep wool, Cashmere wool (wool from goats), Angora (made from the fur of Angora rabbits), Mohair (made from the hair of Angora goats), Feathers and Silk. In addition to the materials themselves, animal components can be present in other compositions as well - this includes certain textile dyes and adhesives for shoes and handbags. Some 'vegan' brands use non-biodegradable synthetic fibers like Acrylic (used to replace wool), faux fur (made from a blend of polyester and cotton), Faux leather (combination of different materials coated with polyurethane) and Polyester (PET - Polyethylene terephthalate). The use of synthetic alternatives is detrimental to the environment due to the properties and nature of plastic and is one of the reasons such brands although vegan are not essentially sustainable. Sustainable brands focus on reducing/managing the impact they have on both, environment and people. There are different ways a brand can be sustainable - from the materials they work with to the manner in which they go about their business. Some sustainable brands may still use materials like wool and leather that are either ethically sourced or recycled/upcycled. To know more about it, read our article here.