Veganuary 2023

Written by MASECO Culture Committee

Veganuary has become one of the most well-known campaigns in food. Born out of the ethos of veganism, which in its purest form is about animal rights, people now try Veganuary for a huge range of reasons, whether that’s health, to lower their carbon footprint, or simply to start the year with a challenge or a feeling of purpose.

Dig a little deeper and Veganuary has also sparked a more nuanced discussion around sustainability: although globally, scientists agree that we need to eat less red meat and dairy, in the UK, simply switching wholesale to plants without any regard for sourcing can mean you end up buying and eating more processed meat alternatives, with ingredients sourced from far and wide with limited transparency and manufactured in energy-intensive factories.

Veganuary also sparked a counter-campaign called ‘Regenuary’, which seeks to highlight the benefits of grass-fed livestock and inspire a conversation about sourcing and production of meat.

As a B-Corp company, veganism fits right into our ethos. While there is no expectation that people will entirely switch to a plant-based diet, as above, Veganuary represents much more than just not eating meat and can transpire through our lives through our choices, such as where we shop and where we eat.

If you’ve been doing Veganuary or even going vegan/veggie one day a week, well done! And if not, we hope this blog will put this on your radar. It’s never too late to start!

Useful & interesting links

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/food-and-drink/a35164832/regenuary/
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/best-vegan-clothing-brands
https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/vegan-recipes
https://ethicalbutcher.co.uk/pages/regenuary