Ethical Concerns about Tallow

Tallow is often misunderstood. Dismissed by some as incompatible with sustainable values, it rarely gets credit for what it actually is: a byproduct. Not farmed for cosmetics, not harvested for vanity—just one part of a much larger story.
At VÆR, we believe in honoring the whole animal. Our tallow comes from grass-fed, grass-finished cattle raised by farmers committed to regenerative land management. These are animals already raised for meat and organs. The fat we use is not a primary commodity—it’s what remains after harvest. To discard it would be wasteful. To use it thoughtfully is to participate in a zero-waste, whole-use philosophy that turns byproduct into nourishment.

So let’s talk about the two biggest concerns people have: climate impact and animal welfare.

1. What About Climate Impact?

The popular narrative says cattle are bad for the planet. But that’s a generalization—and one that ignores the difference between industrial animal agriculture and regenerative grazing.
The cattle used in VÆR’s supply chain are raised on pasture, not in feedlots. Regenerative practices—like rotational grazing—improve soil structure, increase biodiversity, and actually help sequester carbon. That means less erosion, more topsoil, and a healthier ecosystem overall.
According to researchers like Dr. Richard Teague (Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2016), well-managed grazing systems can offer a net environmental benefit over the monocrop farming used to grow seed oils like soybean or sunflower. These seed oil systems require irrigation, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and vast tracts of land—often with no concern for soil health or biodiversity.
In short: the “plant-based = better” equation doesn’t always add up—especially when you look at the full system.

2. What About Animal Welfare?

This one hits home. The idea of using an animal-derived ingredient makes some people uncomfortable. But here’s what’s rarely acknowledged: monoculture plant farming kills animals too.
Every large-scale farm field is cleared of life. Mice, rabbits, ground-nesting birds, insects—they’re lost to plowing, pesticides, and harvest equipment. These deaths aren’t counted. There’s no label. But they happen, every season, in the name of cruelty-free.
We don’t say that to point fingers. We say it to invite deeper thinking.
At VÆR, we take our sourcing seriously. We know our farmers. We visit the farms. We ask how the animals are treated—not to the Portlandia extreme of knowing their names, but because it matters. Are they on pasture? Do they live well? Are they part of a system that regenerates, not depletes?
Tallow is not extracted from animals for skincare. It’s what remains—an act of respect, not exploitation. When we use that fat, we’re not just making balm. We’re completing the circle.

Conclusion: A Different Kind of Clean

If you care about the planet, tallow deserves a second look. Not as an outdated relic, but as a regenerative, ethical, and biologically intelligent ingredient that works with the land—not against it

Skincare doesn’t have to be synthetic. It doesn’t have to be plastic-wrapped, lab-derived, or stripped of context. It can be something more honest. More ancestral. And yes—more sustainable.
Want to see how clean skincare can be?
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