In the news

Employer handbook hits the front pages

The Vegan Society received global press attention after releasing our new guidance for employers in the wake of the Jordi Casamitjana case, which concluded that ethical veganism is a protected belief under the Equality Act (2010). Our booklet received front page coverage on The Times and was featured in most national news outlets. The team was kept busy, with our legal expert Dr Jeanette Rowley and our Head of Communications Sam Calvert doing over 15 radio interviews in just 24 hours.

The NFU takes aim at Joaquin Phoenix

After vegan celebrities took center stage during awards season, the National Farmers’ Union hit back and claimed that the collective mental health of British farmers is suffering due to these interventions. The Vegan Society doesn’t want confl ict with farmers – we are keen to collaborate and advocate for policies that help farmers transition to a more sustainable and compassionate system. This is why our Campaigns and Policy Officer Tim Thorpe took to the airwaves on BBC Radio 4 to remind the public that while the harsh reality of animal agriculture must be spoken about and confronted, we are always open to working with farmers as part of our Grow Green campaign. It is our aim to help farmers adapt to and benefit from the increase in demand for plant-based food.

Februdairy and the plant milk boom

Februdairy, the dairy industry’s response to Veganuary, was an ill-fated campaign that received little media traction. However, the unintended outcome was that more outlets were interested in comparing the ethical and environmental impacts of dairy milk and the many plant-based alternatives. Our new Media and PR Officer, Matt Turner, has been working hard to highlight the benefits of plant milk during the Februdairy campaign. As well as writing a column for The Ecologist comparing the environmental impact of different plant milks, he was interviewed by The Times for an informational video on why plant-based milks are the future.

Tofu and the environment

Misinformation about the environmental impact of tofu was swirling around media outlets following a questionable study that claimed it was worse for the environment than some meats. Matt Turner was on hand to dispel this myth, reminding the public that the vast majority of soya production is still used to feed farmed animals. Matt cited a 2018 study from the University of Oxford, alongside numerous other reports, which have concluded that greenhouse gas emissions created by 1 kg of tofu are far less than that of meats. While there are better plantbased options for the planet than tofu, eating a vegan diet is still one of the best things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint.