I think calling someone a "hypocrite" because they eat meat but choose to make all vegetable soap is a bit harsh, and frankly, quite offensive.
There are lots of usable and edible parts to "food animals" that most animal-fat-soapers wouldn't eat, like pig ears, pigs feet, cow tongue, cow stomach and brain...should I say that they're wasteful because they aren't using all the useful parts of that animal in their personal life? Do they know exactly where their lard or tallow is coming from, and that the meat they eat is directly related to the fats they soap? Just as there are nasty little secrets in the vegetable oil industry (specifically Palm, but also the tainting of Olive Oil), there are plenty of dirty little secrets in the animal fats world.
I was raised in a family of avid hunters, and my grandfather and two uncles are (retired now) butchers. I have helped butcher hogs and deer, and eaten a variety of meats...whether I liked it or not (Dad!). My dad uses as much of the animal as he can, or finds someone else that can. He makes jerky, sausage, ground meats...uses bone and antler to make Native American knives, beads, necklaces, etc...the hides go to a local taxidermist. My family are meat-eaters. I, however, could take it or leave it, depending on the day and the meal. If it were up to me, I would create a new eating style word: Carbegetarian (carbs & veggies, please). I call my sons "meatatarians" because they would be happy to just eat meat for meals.
But I only soap vegetable oils.
I'm not sure how that makes me a hypocrite, but...
I never bash animal oil soapers, or those of you that use fragrance oils or oxides. My only issue is those that use lab created scents and colors calling their soap "all natural". If you are using lab created scent and color, its not "all natural" in my opinion...but that's a different thread...
My soap business has been successful, even here in the south with a bunch of meat eaters. I don't promote my veggie soaps as "better than" animal fats. I don't tell people that if they use synthetically scented or colored products that their arms will fall off. No one has ever asked me if my Palm oil is sustainable, but they have asked if they contain animal products because they're looking for all vegetable based. The only animal product that I get requests for is Goats Milk soap, which I don't make (I use Coconut Milk).
I'm okay with not pleasing everyone.
If I made animal based soaps, someone would be offended by that. If I make all veggie soaps, someone may call me a hypocrite because I eat meat. If I use essential oils, someone has heard they're dangerous. If I use fragrance oils, someone will complain that they cause cancer. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get my point...you can't please everyone.
And as for "just don't tell them what's in there"...if we're talking hypocritical...isn't that what soapers complain about commercial companies doing?
If the ingredients you use to soap are safe and effective, why not blatantly state them?
