Trying to work out if bone china is vegan can be complicated.
Bone china, by its very nature, is not vegan. However, there are products on the market that are marked as “bone china” that are actually vegan.
To make sure that you’re only buying crockery that aligns with your vegan ethics, I’ve looked into the components and production processes of bone china.
Here’s what I found.
Is Bone China Vegan?
Unfortunately, no. Bone china is not vegan.
One of the distinguishing features of fine bone china is the inclusion of bone ash during manufacturing. The use of animal bone ashes gives bone china its distinctive white color, as well as making it stronger and more durable than other types of porcelain.
Despite its name, real bone china is not made entirely of animal bones. Instead, the bones are mixed with other materials like clay and flux to make Bone China paste. This paste is then formed into plates, cups, and other dishware using molds.
The mere fact that bone china crockery contains animal bones makes it non-vegan. So, if you’re following a strict vegan lifestyle, you should avoid buying and using bone china.
Is Bone China Cruelty Free?
Yes! Bone china is a cruelty-free product.
The production of bone china does not involve animal testing at any stage.
So, if you’re looking for a cruelty-free wares option, bone china is a good choice.
What Is Bone China Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of bone china:
- China clay
- China stone
- Bone ash (animal bone ash)
Let’s break down each ingredient of bone china:
China clay
China clay is a type of kaolin clay. It’s a white, powdery clay that is made up of hydrated aluminum silicate. China clay is found all over the world, but it’s most commonly sourced from Brazil, Jamaica, and the United Kingdom. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
China stone
China stone is another name for diatomaceous earth. It is used as a flux in the production of bone china. Fluxes are materials that lower the melting point of other materials. They’re added to bone china to make it easier to work with and to improve its durability. China stone is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Bone ash
As mentioned before, bone ash is what gives bone china its distinctive white color. Bone ash is made from calcined animal bones. Calcination is a process where bones are heated to high temperatures until they turn into a white powder. This powder is then added to the china clay and china stone to make bone china paste.
Why Isn’t Bone China Vegan?
Bone china is not vegan because it contains bone ash, which is made from calcined animal bones. You don’t want to go to the trouble of only eating vegan foods just to eat them off a plate made from animal bones.
If you’re following a strict vegan lifestyle, bone china is not for you. However, you can try other types and brands of porcelain or ceramics such as carrack porcelain, Arita ware, Portmeirion, Husk porcelain, and many more.
Is Arita Ware Vegan?
Yes! Arita ware contains the same ingredients as bone china except bone ash. Arita ware is a type of porcelain that was developed in the town of Arita, Japan. It’s made from white clay that is found in the area. Oil, pine wood, and coal, in that order, are used as fuel to bring out the rich surface texture and coloring of Arita ware.
Arita ware is vegan friendly.
Is Carrack Porcelain Vegan?
Yes! Carrack porcelain is a type of porcelain that was developed in the 15th century. It is made from white clay that is found in Germany. Carrack porcelain does not contain bone ash.
Carrack porcelain is vegan friendly.
Is Chelsea Porcelain Factory Vegan?
Yes! Chelsea Porcelain Factory is a type of porcelain that was developed in the 18th century. It is made from white clay that is found in England. Their products do not contain bone ash.
Chelsea Porcelain Factory is vegan friendly.
Is Falkenporzellan Vegan?
Yes! Falkenporzellan is known for its modern take on traditional porcelain designs. They are based in Germany and all of their products are made in Germany. Falkenporzellan does not use bone ash in any of its products.
Falkenporzellan is vegan friendly.
Is Portmeirion Vegan?
Yes! Portmeirion is known for its beautiful and intricate designs. They are based in England and all of their products are made in England. Portmeirion does not use bone ash in any of its products.
Portmeirion is vegan friendly.
Is Husk Porcelain Vegan?
Yes! Husk porcelain is a recently developed type of porcelain that is made from rice husks. It is a sustainable, vegan-friendly alternative to traditional porcelain. It is stronger than traditional porcelain and it has a beautiful natural color. Husk porcelain does not contain animal products
Husk porcelain is vegan friendly.
Is There a Vegan Alternative to Bone China?
The good news is yes! There is a vegan bone china!
There are new bone china versions that don’t use bone ash. They use mineralized calcium oxide to create the same beautiful white color and translucent quality. The development of this new type of bone china is an important step in making veganism more accessible to people who might otherwise not consider it.
Final Words
So there you have it! Bone china is not vegan because it uses bone ash from calcined animal bones. The good news is there are vegan alternatives available that don’t use bone ash, so you can still enjoy the beauty of bone china without compromising your values.
Buying products that are vegan is not always easy. But it’s never impossible. You just have to be more careful when you’re shopping. Read the labels and do your research to make sure that the product is vegan.
When in doubt, always ask the company. Most companies are happy to tell you whether their products are vegan.