This morning, Bryant Research released a report entitled “Climate-Conscious and Cost-Effective: the Case for Plant-Based University Catering” in collaboration with Plant-Based Universities [1] [2].
Using rigorous third-party data, the report seeks to provide an objective analysis of the environmental and financial savings universities would achieve by transitioning to 100% plant-based menus, with the findings being clear evidence in favour of this move.
The report estimates that plant-based meals would, on average, cost 92p less than ones containing meat (£3.02 versus £2.10). While the research suggested plant-based meals would decrease CO2-equivalent emissions by 84% per meal, using a fraction of the water and farmland versus a meat-containing comparison.
The report also found that a medium-sized university (10,000 students) could save over £500,000 annually on food procurement costs by adopting 100% plant-based university catering.
After using data from 140 different ingredients and dozens of meals being served across university campuses, a landmark report has concluded that there is clear evidence to support the transition away from serving animal products in higher education establishments.
Agnes Sales, a Plant-Based Universities campaigner at the University of Bristol said:
“This report into university catering is, yet another, key piece of support for higher education to step up and do their duty in the face of the climate crisis. 100% plant-based menus would represent a vital, no-nonsense, and common sense step towards campus sustainability.
Not only would this see universities displaying they take runaway global temperatures seriously, but provide them with the ability to face critical monetary savings for students struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The saving of nearly a pound per meal could make huge differences to student wellbeing and their wallet!”
The research comes after many UK Students’ Unions have voted to transition towards 100% plant-based catering, including Cambridge and Newcastle [3] [4]. Furthermore, in 2023 hundreds of academics and public figures called on universities to transition to 100% plant-based menus [5]. Previous research from Bryant Research concluded that the NHS could save more than £2 billion yearly if the public ate meat-free lunches [5].
Billy Nicholles, Research Associate at Bryant Research and the report’s Primary Author said:
“In line with a wealth of academic literature, the data in this model is clear: a plant-based transition is an environmental imperative. Our model found that plant-based meals are consistently the most sustainable across various environmental measures, compared to vegetarian and meat-based meals.
Crucially, we also found that a plant-based transition provides an opportunity for caterers to reduce their food procurement costs. Contrary to the idea that a plant-based transition will impose extra costs on caterers, our model found that the wholesale price of plant-based meals is on average 30% cheaper than meat-based meals, and 21% cheaper than vegetarian meals. This would allow caterers to maintain or even increase their profit margins during transition and also presents an opportunity to tackle student food insecurity if savings were passed on to students
This report gives caterers the reassurance and guidance they need to kickstart their transition to sustainable menus.”
Plant-Based Universities are an international network of students who are pushing for their universities and student unions to adopt 100% plant-based catering [5]. The group believes that universities have an obligation to follow the scientific research that they produce on the environmental impacts of animal farming and fishing. The campaign is active in over 80 institutions, with the group encouraging interested students to sign up to run local campaigns. The campaign is supported by Animal Rising.
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Notes To Editors: