The Vegan Society is the very first registered organization of its kind. Although founded in England in 1944, it does not usually annex the word “British” or “UK” to its name. Such words are typically added to differentiate it from the other vegan societies established in other parts of the world. It was founded by Donald Watson and Elsie “Sally” Shrigley, along with 23 other founding members. Its present headquarter is located at Birmingham, England.
The annual celebration of World Vegan Day coincides with the founding of the Vegan Society in November 1. This celebration was initiated by the then society president – Louise Wallis. Watson is credited for coining the term “vegan”.
The Vegan Society conducts its activities to include information dissemination through its official website, leaflets, books, and videos; provision of comprehensive support through the establishment of a network of contacts; publication of the Society’s quarterly magazine – The Vegan, and the publication of the Animal Free Shopper which offers a list of available vegan items in the UK which is updated every two years. It also undertakes the licensing of its trademark (sunflower symbol) for the purpose of vegan product labeling.
In the same manner as the Vegan Society is sometimes considered a break-away group of the Leicester Vegetarian Society, it also produced a related group – the Movement for Compassionate Living (MCL), which was founded in 1984 by the former secretary of the Vegan Society. MCL promotes the ideals of veganism and sustainable living. Its membership system is largely informal, being based on the subscription of the organization’s journal. Members come from different countries.
Directly inspired by the principles presented by The Vegan Society, H. Jay Dinshah founded the American Vegan Society in 1960. It absorbed an earlier established vegan society in the US. The American Vegan Society is a non-profit organization that primarily promotes compassionate living as epitomized by veganism and other related concepts. It firmly believes that a vegan lifestyle is chosen for health, environment and ethical reasons. It is guided by its motto “AHIMSA lights the way”. Other registered vegan societies include the Australian Vegan Society, Dutch Vegan Society, Hong Kong Vegan Society, Indonesian Vegan Society, South Africa Vegan Society and the Indian Vegan Society. Aside from the official vegan societies mentioned, several smaller organizations are working within the same objectives of The Vegan Society.
The South Africa Vegan Society is actively lobbying for the proper use of the label “vegan” due to the current unacceptable labeling procedures undertaken by certain manufacturers. There are those who pass off their products as vegan without consideration of true vegan requirements as well as instituted health and advertising standards. Most vegan societies undertake to forge better relationships between vegans and non-vegans while educating the public about the ills of animal exploitation.