Well known not-for-profit campaign, Meat Free Monday, has joined the Plant-based Food Alliance UK this week adding its political clout in Westminster.
As the latest member of the Plant-based Food Alliance, Meat Free Monday has campaigned for over 15 years to show the big difference for our health and the health of our planet that replacing meat with plant-based choices each Monday can offer. Launched by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney and supported by a strong team, Meat Free Monday has successfully introduced the idea of having at least one plant-based day a week across schools, businesses and individual households nationwide.
The campaign encourages people to help slow climate change, conserve precious natural resources and improve their health by having at least one plant-based day each week.
“We are delighted to welcome Meat Free Monday to the ranks of the Alliance, ensuring that we can elevate their campaign message to policymakers and they give a great example of how easily we can shift the public towards more plant-based eating using the Monday model,” Marisa Heath, PBFA CEO, said.
“If the Government supported the Meat Free Monday campaign across its extensive workforce and departments, it would send out a very strong message that they take sustainability seriously and recognise the role of diet in the net zero agenda. This would also give plant-based companies the opportunity to have policymakers try their products and see how easy it is to reduce meat consumption.” Heath said.
The UK Government’s advisor on climate change, the Climate Change Committee, has recommended making plant-based food “attractive, accessible and affordable”.
However, work needs to be done to amplify that message so that supporting policies and legislation bring about the necessary changes to promote the production, research, export and public procurement of plant-based food. It is here where the Alliance focuses much of its attention and its growing membership allows it to increase its work.
Meat Free Monday will assist the Alliance in ensuring that plant-based foods get the recognition and support from the Government that they deserve. As Paul McCartney has suggested: “We have a climate emergency on our hands, and we all want to make a difference. But it’s often hard to know where to start. … Eating plant based can make a big difference. Why not start with a Meat Free Monday and take it from there?”