U.K. employers are encouraging staff to try a vegan diet for the month of January.
More than 75 organizations have signed on to the “Veganuary” workplace challenge, which encourages employees to try a diet free of animals or animal-derived products for the first 31 days of 2022.
A wide array of organizations, from high-end department store Harrods to pizza chain Papa John’s International Inc. to car manufacturer Volkswagen Group UK, have signed on at a time of year when many employees make new year’s resolutions related to personal wellness. The health of the planet was also a key reason to sign on for many participating employers.
Read: Earth Day: Strong support for sustainable investing coming from plan members
“The driving force behind me wanting to take on the Veganuary workplace challenge has to be the planet,” said Michelle Kendrick, executive producer at the Mill, a global creative and production agency, in a press release. “Having seen environmental issues come to the forefront in recent years, it’s so important we do all that we can to help reduce our carbon footprint.”
This month, the Mill plans to swap all meat and dairy products in its studio, as well as providing vegan catering at its events. It will also host a series of live virtual talks with various sustainably platforms for its global teams in Europe, India and North America, “so they can learn about the benefits of a plant-based or reduced dairy/meat diet both for the planet and for their overall health.”
Read: B.C. municipality supporting employee fitness with new wellness program
Slightly more than a third (34 per cent) of U.K. adults said they’re either interested in trying or plan to try a vegan/plant-based diet, according to a recent survey by YouGov. The Veganuary challenge is one way employers can support the growing number of employees interested in trying an animal-free diet this month, according to Toni Vernelli, head of communications for Veganuary, in a press release.
“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 well-being of their employees.”