# Free University Amsterdam (VU)

Canonical URL: [Free University Amsterdam (VU)](https://plantbaseduniversities.org/amsterdam-vu)

Campaign last updated: 2026-10-27T15:51:51.559Z

City: Amsterdam

## We are turning VU Amsterdam fully plant-based\!

Signatures displayed: 112. Current signature goal: 1,000. Counts can change.

## What is the problem?

### 57% of food emissions come from animal products

Food systems are responsible for around a third of all global greenhouse gas emissions, and animal products are the dominant driver. Meat and dairy alone generate more emissions than all the world's planes, ships, and cars combined. Every meal VU serves is a choice between perpetuating this crisis or being part of the solution.

## What can we do?

### Demand VU to transition to 100% plant-based

Every plate is a decision VU makes and can change. VU has already committed to a vegetarian-by-default canteen and published a vision for more sustainable, healthier meals. Going 100% plant-based is one of the most visible, controllable ways to actually deliver on that promise.

## Is that even possible?

University of Graz went fully plant-based. Edinburgh hit 70% — and VU can be next\!

## Petition

To VU students and staff members

We demand 100% Plant-Based Catering at VU\!

We are Plant-Based Universities, a student-led movement active in 73 universities across the UK and Europe, including VU Amsterdam. 

In Europe, food alone is responsible for 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with meat and dairy production making up most of that percentage (Petrovic, 2015). Animal farming is also the leading cause of global deforestation and biodiversity loss, while only providing 18% of global calories (Ritchie & Roser, 2021). On top of this, 90% of the world’s water footprint comes from animal agriculture, including the majority of freshwater (Holdinghausen, 2021). 

Our climate is collapsing, driven by industrial animal farming on a massive scale. We face an urgent choice: continue down a path of destruction or transform our food system to a fairer plant-based one.

Universities are sites of knowledge, trusted institutions, leaders in sustainability, and serve millions of meals every year. Much of our understanding of the climate crisis and the negative impact of animal agriculture on the planet comes from university research, including from VU itself\! We call upon VU’s responsibility to act on its own research. 

For these reasons, we are calling on VU to 

1) stop offering animal products and 2) commit to a transition towards sustainable and 100% plant-based catering 

Support us by signing the petition\! Every signature matters and is one step closer to our goal. 

Feed the future, not the crisis\!

## Get involved and follow updates

[Visit the campaign page](https://plantbaseduniversities.org/amsterdam-vu) to join the team or sign the petition, and read the latest campaign timeline.

[Campaign Instagram](https://instagram.com/pbu.amsterdam)