Veganuary is a UK challenge that runs throughout the month of January, with the aim of reducing the UK’s meat consumption. It is run by a non-profit organisation that promotes and educates about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. Since the event began in 2014, participation has more than doubled each year. 400,000 people signed up to the 2020 campaign.
People sign up for a number of reasons, including:
health - vegan diets reduce the risks of heart disease and obesity, as well as including a lot more fruit and vegetables, meaning you are more likely to get your five-a-day.
animals/compassion - the meat, dairy and egg industry can be quite cruel, and by eating products provided by them, you are contributing to the slaughter and exploitation of animals.
environment - vegan diets reduce the impact we have on our environment. For example, the cattle industry cuts down trees in the rainforest to create grazing land, up to 5,800 square kilometres of forest is being felled in the Amazon and other areas every year for cattle ranching. The destruction of up to 290 sq km of forest each year is linked to JBS's supply chain for exported beef, according to the data assembled by Trase.
Over 580,000 people signed up in 2021, from over 209 different countries, with over 825 more vegan products added to the market.
How can you get involved?
There is no requirement to sign up in order to take part, it's all about personal choices. You take meat, dairy and egg products out of your diet for a month, and switch them with vegan, vegetarian and plant- based alternatives. If you accidentally slip up, it doesn't matter, you can do it for you, the environment, or the animals. If you would like more information on vegan/vegetarian foods, there are plenty of websites which help you make informed choices.
So, whatever your reason may be for giving it a go, remember, there's so many tasty dishes, snacks and deserts out there to keep you going!
By Annabel Haggar
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