England is increasingly becomeing a cashless society. Especially since the pandemic (when people gave up cash to avoid spreading germs), many shops have continued to not use cash. Especially since the Bank of England launched new bank notes that contain not just plastic but animal fat (apparently to make them ‘slide easier’ from wallets and purses). Many vegan shops (including all fast-food chains) now refuse to use cash.
Sweden (World’s First Cashless Country?)
This trend is following Sweden, which is set to become the world’s first cashless society. Just 2% of all transactions in Sweden are now used with paper money and coins.
Most people in Sweden use Swish (this is also how people pay each other money and leave tips at restaurants). It’s free to send and receive payments for private individuals, and companies and charities simply pay the small fee to use it, as otherwise they would never receive money, as so many people use it. Others use their smartphones (most places don’t even take pin numbers now, everything has to be contactless). Visitors have to still use their phones, as Swish requires a bank account and mobile phone in that country, to work. However unlike in England, it’s easier to find free-to-use ATM machines if paying cash.
Older People Still Prefer Cash
However, many older people prefer to pay cash. And debt charities saying using cash usually results in spending less – the charity Christians Against Poverty says that spending cash results usually in spending a third less overall, as you are not ‘spending money you don’t have.
Bank Notes Need a New Redesign
If we keep cash, then it pays to listen to campaigners, to ask the Bank of England to reverse their policy. Using animal fats in bank notes not only affects vegans (who prefer not to use them). But also people of faith (Hindus, Sikhs and Jains). The animal fat used is from tallow (from the kidneys and loins of cows, sheep and horses).
The Bank of England also says the tallow is used to prevent static, when used in counting machines. The company that makes the bank notes, now supplies the same animal-fat products to 20 countries abroad.
The new bank notes are also made from polymer (plastic). As if we don’t have enough plastic pollution problems already, creating these means they don’t break down, when they go out of circulation. And will continue polluting our planet for hundreds of years to come. Another issue when our natinoal bank is obsessed with ‘money’ over planet.
But the stubbornness is not redesigning the new notes (and it’s not a good switch to palm oil, as this would then harm the habitats of orangutans) is leading to financial loss anyway. People in London increasingly are paying without cash. And nationally, £500 million less is now removed from ATM machines compared to before the pandemic.
Zero Waste vegan wallets and purses
Willow Earth (Sussex) is a nice company that makes gorgeous vegan rucksacks and totes from cotton canvas with cork detailing. The company then uses the offcuts to make pretty wallets in a number of colours. The same company makes cotton canvas purses, again using offcuts from making rucksacks.
Many of the wallets have cork detailing or you can go for an all-cork version. Cork is a natural ‘vegan leather’ that is does not require trees to be chopped down. The bark is simply stripped from the trees every few years. Keeping the cork industry alive (in a world of plastic wine bottle tops) is a good way to keep forests intact, provide jobs and protect native wildlife in the Mediterranean.
luxury vegan leather wallets from London
Watson & Wolfe (look for sale bargains at Immaculate Vegan) of London offers luxury vegan leather wallets and accessories. The brand was founded by a woman who began her career working in leather goods, believing that leather was a by-product of the meat industry. However when she discovered the unimaginable suffering of animals in the leather industry (along with the environmental issues), she used her experience to launch a luxury brand of personalised alternatives. She also went vegan!
This is a quality brand (you can opt for personal engraving of initials for gifts). The name Watson is from the founder’s beloved Dachshund who has been by her side since puppyhood and now in his senior years, follows her almost everywhere, when not snoozing in his bed in her office! As dogs are descended from wolves, this is how the brand name was founded.
more vegan leather wallets from London
Oliver Co. London is a premium brand, again set up by someone who worked in the luxury accessories market, before deciding to launch a vegan alternative. The company makes wallets and cardholders (usually made with apple leather) along with elegant protective vegan leather laptop sleeves.
privacy-blocking carbon fibre wallets
These carbon-fibre wallets are an ideal replacement for leather, and also contain special technology to block your privacy and keep your money and personal details safe. They feature RFID blocking technology and are sold in several colours and styles. They are from the US but sold with a lifetime warranty, so one purchase and you should be good to go.
The RFID blocks wireless theft and the wallets securely hold 1 to 15 cards. The carbon-strength makes them scratch-resistant and practically indestructible. They also feature replaceable screws and elastic, and include a money clip and money strap. Sold with a black gift box.
Leather is not a by-product of the meat industry. Most leather goods are made in the Far East, an area with little or no animal welfare laws, and not good human rights welfare either. It takes 17,000 litres of fresh water to make 1kg of leather, with 80% tanned with chrome that is toxic to tannery workers.
Watson & Wolfe (also sold on Etsy) is a premium brand of vegan leather belts and other accessories (like wallets), beautifully crafted in classic black or elegant brown, in beautiful embossed gift packaging. These belts are crafted in Portugal using innovative eco corn-based vegan leathers (no PVC) to offer sustainable and cruelty-free elegant fashion. These belts are designed to last for years, and also make the perfect ethical gift.
The vegan corn leather belts use non-food grade materials and are three times more environmentally-friendly than real leather, as well as being kind to animals. Each belt has three layers: a faux nubuck, a lining and top layer of corn-based faux leather, bonded and securely stitched.
Some belts are also made from sustainable cork (no trees are cut down, they are simply tapped every few years to strip the bark, for a natural vegan leather). Keeping the cork industry alive in a world of plastic wine corks, is a great way to preserve forests and native wildlife in the Mediterranean. Many belts feature rectangular bucks in polished silver, and are sold in 4 sizes.
You can also buy nice vegan leather belts (in zero waste packaging) from Will’s Vegan Shoes (also for women).
