Plant-Based University Catering Would Slash Costs And Emissions, New Report Finds

A new report suggests that universities could save significant costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching to plant-based catering. The report, produced by Bryant Research and Plant-Based Universities, compared the financial and environmental impacts of meat-based, vegetarian, and plant-based meals in university catering. Plant-based meals consistently came out on top for cost-effectiveness and sustainability, with potential yearly savings of about £500,000 for a mid-sized university by going fully plant-based.

The report shows that plant-based meals not only offer financial benefits but also outperform meat-based and vegetarian meals across various environmental metrics. It found that plant-based meals have a lower carbon footprint, use less water, and require less land than meat-based meals. The report recommends universities to create a roadmap to transition to plant-based catering by 2030, engage and educate stakeholders, and make plant-based the default option. Several universities in the UK have already made strides towards plant-based catering, with student unions at universities like Birmingham, Lancaster, and Cambridge voting in favor of the transition.