For the first time, plant-based milk is to be celebrated with its own international awareness day. 

World Plant Milk Day, August 22nd, marks the recent explosion in popularity of dairy-free alternatives such as almond, oat, soya, hemp, hazelnut and coconut, and raises awareness of their many health, animal welfare and environmental benefits. 

The boom in plant-based alternatives shows no signs of slowing down, with the global industry set to top $16 billion next year. The dairy industry, meanwhile, is in crisis: there are now fewer than 9,500 dairy farms in the UK compared with 13,000 a decade ago, and it has been predicted there will be fewer than 5,000 by 2025. 

Jimmy Pierson, Director of ProVeg UK, said: “More people than ever before are switching to plant milks to improve their health and so that cows no longer need to suffer for the sake of a cuppa. We are moving into a new post-milk era, where people make healthier, more compassionate choices that benefit all animals, humans and the planet. 

“There has been a big cultural shift away from cows’ milk in recent years with huge numbers of people, particularly the young, realising that there is nothing you can get from cows’ milk that you can’t get from plants, and that alternatives taste great. Many are also questioning whether it is normal or natural to drink the milk of a different species.” 

As the realities of its standard practices continue to come to light through undercover footage and documentaries, dairy is increasingly seen as cruel, outdated and unnecessary. Last month, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled against the dairy industry in finding that cows’ milk production can be described as “inhumane”. 

The negative impact of dairy products on human health is also becoming increasingly accepted. There is extensive evidence to suggest that consuming milk may increase the risk of several chronic health conditions. Conversely, research now points to whole food, plant-based diets, including plant milks, as being effective in preventing and even reversing disease. 

The first ever World Plant Milk Day sees leading UK vegan and animal organisations ProVeg UK, Plant Based News, Animal Aid, Veganuary and Viva! come together for the first time to promote delicious and healthy plant-based alternatives to dairy, to further accelerate their popularity. 

Restaurants across the country are offering deals and events to make plant milks more accessible for the week around World Plant Milk Day. The Green Kitchen in St Albans, for example, is offering dairy-free milk and cheese tasters, while The Spotless Leopard in Bristol is offering a free meal on the next visit when customers photograph their meal and share it online, tagging ProVeg UK and The Spotless Leopard with the hashtag #WorldPlantMilkDay. 

For more information and for a full list of participating restaurants visit www.worldplantmilkday.com