Going vegan is increasingly popular - but it isn't just about what you're eating.

The plant-based life can leave you with a lot to think about, from the everyday items manufactured with animal derivatives to the clothes in your wardrobe - and even hobbies.

Global crafting platform LoveCrafts.com has reported a rise in the number of people searching for vegan-friendly craft materials, including yarn made from banana trees and bamboo.

Fran Theobalds, senior buyer at LoveCrafts, said: "With veganism on the rise, weve seen an increase in makers searching for vegan-friendly craft materials.

"Theres a lot of genuine surprise there are so many plant-based yarns to choose from, and knitting isnt just about wool! Veganuary is the perfect time for people to experiment with new materials, without giving up the things they enjoy."

LoveCrafts.com has researched the vegan-friendly items that might surprise you - and the food, clothing, crafting and beauty items people wrongly assume are suitable for vegans.

Certain packs of chicken or beef flavoured noodles dont contain any meat products and are vegan-friendly - just check the label.

While most chocolate contains dairy ingredients, most cacao powder can be enjoyed dairy-free by mixing it with non-dairy milks.

While some yarn is made from animal fibres - sheeps wool, alpaca and mohair for example, there are plenty of plant-based options, including cotton, bamboo and banana tree husks. LoveCrafts has compiled a roundup of the best plant-based yarns available.

Meat flavoured crisps such as smoky bacon and roast chicken, often just contain flavourings which resemble meat and do not contain any animal products.

It may sound like these crackers feature dairy products, but they are actually vegan friendly.

Most crumpets do not contain any dairy or egg products, and use basic ingredients such as flour, yeast and sugar.

Despite looking like they have a creamy centre, Oreo biscuits do not contain any dairy products and are completely vegan, great for vegan baking!

Due to its common pairing with meat dishes, Bisto is often presumed to be non-vegan - however even the original Bisto doesnt contain any animal products

If youre making fresh pasta, eggs are often used in the recipe, however the majority of shop-bought pastas are completely suitable for vegans.

While denim itself is vegan friendly, the patch on the back of a pair can sometimes be made from real leather.

Some common tattoo inks still use ingredients derived from animals such as bone char or glycerine. Stencil paper can also be made from lanolin, which is derived from sheeps wool.

While vegan-friendly paint is available, the capsule that contains the paint is commonly made using gelatine.

Some consider figs as non-vegan due to the fact when female pollinator wasps lay their eggs inside a fig flower, the process kills the wasp and the fig digests it.

While some of the bigger brands have now switched to vegan friendly production, a lot of beer and wine is still produced using animal products such as isinglass (fish bladders).

Major producers including Guinness, Budweiser and Heineken have now begun switching to vegan-friendly methods of production.

Read more here:
Nine surprising vegan items for Veganuary - and the unexpected things vegans need to avoid - Leicestershire Live - Leicestershire Live