![Lubricants Vegan Safe organic lubricants: Coconu, Good Clean Love, Sliquid, Yes Organics]()
Conscientious Kink
If you’re looking into sex toys and BDSM/kink gear, there are a few considerations. If you want to go local, it can be rather difficult. Most sex toys are made in China, just like many other consumer goods, but there are some companies that operate in North America and Europe. Most of these companies are small and artisanal, although some operate on a slightly larger scale.
Where to look? Well, Tantus makes fabulous, 100 percent silicone, hypoallergenic and body-safe products. It also operates a factory and all of its offices in one location in Nevada. Not only are this company's products "local," but they are of incredibly high quality - I recommend them incessantly.
Other options in North America are mainly companies working in silicone like Bad Dragon, Vixen Creations, Fuze Silicone, Vamp Silicone, Whipspider Rubberworks and Divine Interventions. Crystal Delights and Pyrexions are some fantastic glass companies also operating out of North America. If you’re in Europe, try BS is Nice (Madrid) or Babes 'n’ Horny (London) if you’re looking for beautiful, high-quality silicone toys. Fun Factory, a large, international company that makes silicone vibrating and non-vibrating products (as well as "pulsating" products) operates entirely out of Germany. I don’t know of any other companies operating out of Europe currently, so do let me know if you’ve heard of some!
For the kinksters out there, there are a lot of vegan alternatives to the usual leather restraints that are currently on the market. In fact, you can just about satisfy your leather fetish without an actual cowhide. You can find some high quality examples at Aslan Leather, and I’m going to plug Tantus again and point out its silicone paddles; these are not only vegan and body safe, but you can boil them for cleaning, which means play of any sort with as many people as you'd like. (What's the difference between a wood, leather or silicone spanking paddle? Ducky tells it like it is!)
Be Good, Be Good to Yourself
If you're concerned about buying local food, minimizing your environmental impact or avoiding harmful chemicals, you probably don't check those worries at the door of your local sex shop. The good news is, companies are increasingly stepping up to provide products that are both pleasurable and ethical. It's as guilt-free as sex gets. Of course, whether you regret it in the morning is another story.
If you have questions about other ethical options for a specific type of sex toy, safer sex barrier, or lubricant I’d be more than happy to help.