Demand for vegan cleaning products has ‘rocketed’ at Tesco

Demand for vegan cleaning products at Tesco has rocketed over the past year, coinciding with the spike of interest in meat- and dairy-free diets among UK consumers. 

Britons cutting down on or eliminating animal produce from their diets also appear to be focusing on other areas of their lives where they can switch to vegan options, with many seeking out household cleaning products that have not been tested on animals, figures from Tesco indicate. 

Vegan sales boom 

Sales of eco-cleaning products that are environmentally friendly and have not been tested on animals have soared by 80 per cent, the supermarket has revealed. 

“We have seen growth right across this category over a number of different brands and ranges,” a Tesco spokesman said. 

Tesco’s Eco Active range has seen year-on-year growth of 95 per cent while sales of items from two popular eco-friendly brands, Method and Ecover, have risen by 73 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. 

Consumer awareness 

“Brits are becoming more aware not only of what they put in their bodies but also on and around their bodies,” said Will Etherington, a Tesco buyer. 

“Using greener cleaning products, which are made from plant-based ingredients and not the commonly used petroleum, can make a considerable difference to both the environment and to the planet’s energy resources.” 

Tesco cleaning up 

Tesco hopes to capitalise on the trend by partnering with Method to create a new vegan cleaning range, Method Naked. 

“Vegan groceries are experiencing a real surge as consumers become more conscious about environmental and ethical factors – however, the trend isn’t confined to food,” said Matthew Maxwell, consumer insight director at the market research firm Kantar Worldpanel. 

“Vegan cosmetics and beauty products are seeing strong growth…Now vegan cleaning products are beginning to pick up. 

“Until recently these were few and far between but, as customers become more aware of the impact of their daily routines on the planet, we’ll see more manufacturers and brands rolling out lines that do not contain animal products – as they have done with less plastic-reliant goods in recent years.” 

Vegans ‘delighted’ 

Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society, said: “We’re delighted to learn that cruelty-free cleaning products have been selling so well…Vegans and non-vegans alike loathe the thought of the products they use in their homes being tested on animals.

” Ms Piasecka added: “Animal experimentation is a horrible way in which we use animals, and we know that if more people choose cruelty-free household products, we can bring an end to animals suffering in labs sooner.”