Universities are going vegan!

Posted on the 23rd April 2023

In recent times, there have been several successful motions passed at universities, resulting in many of them adopting completely vegan catering, or reducing their sale of animal products.

The Plant-based Universities campaign was set up to encourage universities to switch catering provisions on campus to 100% plant-based. This is because the adoption of a plant-based food system is vital if we are to tackle the climate crisis.

“The campaign locates animal farming at the heart of the climate crisis and aims to make this association as natural and as publicly accepted as the impact of fossil fuels on the climate. […] We are advocating for our academic institutions to act in alignment with the best interests of future generations now.”

 

 

Since the launch of the campaign, many UK universities have taken action and passed motions. Most recently, the University of Birmingham voted in favour of a motion to have 60% plant-based catering by the next academic year, with a 10% increase each year until 100%.

Other successes include…

  • The University of Stirling SU has passed a motion to transition to 100% plant-based by the year 2025.
  • The University of Cambridge has already removed beef and lamb from some menus and is actively promoting plant-based options.
  • King’s College London has opened a plant-based café.
  • University College London now offers default plant milk at all its campus outlets.
  • London Metropolitan University now has meat-free Mondays.
  • Bournemouth University has lowered the prices of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy.
  • The University of Exeter has removed red meat from all campus outlets, except one.

Catering in universities can be a beacon of change; by switching to 100% plant-based, or reducing the amount of animal products offered, universities will be able to reduce their climate impact, whilst also showing students how delicious vegan food is – resulting in them being more inclined to reduce their animal product consumption further.

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