Veganuary is a month-long challenge in which participants commit to eating a vegan diet for the first month of the new year. Every year, the number of people who participate grows. Some prominent corporations are also participating this year, providing a positive example for a future with less meat.
For the year 2022, more than 75 companies have signed up for the Veganuary Workplace Challenge. The luxury department store Harrod’s, Papa John’s International, Volkswagen Group UK, the NHS Supply Chain, and others are among the major players.
The Veganuary Workplace Challenge is a January challenge for corporate employees to eat a vegan diet for 31 days. Business leaders mentioned a variety of motivations for participating in the 2022 challenge, including strengthening company-wide sustainability, lowering personal carbon footprints, adopting cruelty-free goods, and improving health.
“As a company we want to show that there are care homes that do cater for alternative diets and take people’s beliefs into consideration, as I was horrified to hear recently about some care homes not respecting people’s vegan and vegetarian diets, when they have dementia and are feeding them meat… I am an advocate of the vegan way of life and feel it does boost my energy, it can also reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes which can be common factors in the elderly,” stated Joe Lock, communities director at Adept Carehomes, a participant of this year’s Veganuary.
Veganuary can mean that dozens or even hundreds of employees at certain companies go meatless for the month of January. For others, Veganuary can take on a customer-facing role, offering vegan and cruelty-free products and services.
As part of its ongoing Plant Love promise, Papa John’s International is trying to extend its plant-based options. Veganuary bargains are available at Superdrug, a UK-based health and beauty shop that also sells several vegan items.
Veganuary attracted more than 580,000 participants from 209 countries and territories in 2021, with over 98 percent of participants saying they would suggest the challenge to a friend. The group intends to raise that number in 2022, and with so many significant corporations participating, the event might have its largest crowd yet.
“It’s great to have so many businesses putting their values into action by taking part in Veganuary’s Workplace Challenge… It’s a fun way to unite their teams in a shared experience while demonstrating their commitment to reducing their impact on the planet and improving the health and wellbeing of their employees,” stated Toni Vernelli, head of communications for Veganuary.
Source: “Big Businesses Join in on Growing Veganuary Challenge” by EcoWatch
