Veganuary: Are You In?

You may have heard of Veganuary, the global initiative which encourages people to ditch animal products in favor of a vegan diet, which was launched in 2014. More than 250,000 people signed up for Veganuary 2019 across 159 countries, up 49% on 2018. But Veganuary 2020 is set to be the biggest yet, with the organisation aiming for over 350,000 people to pledge to go meat-free. The charity is also targeting four new countries in 2020: Germany, the US, Chile and South Africa.

Veganuary is certainly a great way to begin the year on a healthy note. But just how successful will it be?

Record Breaking?

Norseland, the UK-based maker of Applewood cheese, believes that Veganuary 2020 is sure to be record breaking. "I would not be in the slightest bit surprised if the numbers for Veganuary 2020 reach, or even exceed, half a million people going vegan for the month," stated Lisa Harrison, Norseland's senior brand manager. "Obviously the surge in environmental awareness in 2019 will have a dramatic effect on the figures, but I believe that another key factor in the numbers of those abstaining from animal and dairy products will be the game-changing developments in improving the taste of vegan cheese”, she continued.

Celebrity Endorsements

Numerous celebrity endorsements have also brought Veganuary into the focus of the mainstream media. On December 5, the campaign was launched by Oscar-nominated actor, Joaquin Phoenix. “If you look at the climate crisis or the violence of our food system and feel helpless, thinking ‘I wish there was something I could do’- you can. Right now. Sign up to try vegan this January”, pleaded Pheonix.

Other high profile names to be associated with the campaign are Alicia Silverstone and Mayim Bailik. Those interested can view the complete list of all the Veganuary supporters and their quotes about its importance here. 

The Benefits 

The benefits of going vegan are vast, and these are surely the greatest reason for individuals to commit to Veganuary. Better health, improved sleep, and the likelihood of weight loss are all reasons people commit to a vegan diet. From an environmental point of view, there are also benefits. Avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact. And according to a recent United Nations report, a global shift towards a vegan diet is absolutely necessary if we are to combat the worst effects of climate change. With so many supermarkets now stocking incredible plant-based alternatives, there’s no excuse not to become meat-free, at least for a month.

Toni Vernelli, Veganuary’s Head of Communications, has stated: “Each of us can help fight climate chaos with our forks. Signing up at Veganuary.com is a fun and empowering way to tackle this serious global threat. All of our resources are completely free, friendly and supportive – so why not do your part for the planet and give it a go!” 

You can learn more about Veganuary and sign up at www.veganuary.com.