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Mzansi, tick all your New Year’s resolutions this Veganuary
Kick-off the new year by joining a global vegan challenge
Have you already made your New Year’s resolutions to live and eat healthier? Have you set out to try new exciting recipes and invite your friends and family over more? Have you promised to do your part to make our planet a better place?
Whether you are in the “new year, new me” spirit or cautiously optimistic about what the big, scary new year might bring, there is no better way to kick it off than with Veganuary.
What is Veganuary?
Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try a vegan diet and lifestyle during January and, hopefully, beyond. Veganuary also encourages and supports people and businesses to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people. Veganuary inspired more than half a million people to try a vegan lifestyle during their 2021 campaign – with participants from over 200 countries and territories.
Veganuary in South Africa
Although beautifully diverse, South Africans share a love for food and gatherings. We are a social nation known for our hospitality and mouthwatering cuisine. But we are also a very unhealthy nation, with the Western Cape Government reporting that 25.1% of men and 62.2% of women in South Africa are obese, with many struggling with resulting illnesses.
Veganuary gives us South Africans a chance to live a healthier lifestyle, while still celebrating our rich cultural and culinary heritage, and combatting climate change. According to ProVeg International, a plant-based diet offers numerous benefits compared with a diet centred on animal products. While animal-based diets carry several health risks, a rich and varied plant-based diet can offer prevention and treatment of a host of modern lifestyle diseases, including some forms of cancer and hypertension. A plant-based diet can also cut an individual’s carbon footprint by half.
Veganism has gained popularity in South Africa in recent years, with several successful vegan restaurants popping up across the country. According to Forbes, Johannesburg is rated as one of the top 10 vegan-friendly world cities. Some of our national fast-food chains have also joined the movement, including meat-free options on their menus. There is also a vast selection of delicious plant-based foods already available in South Africa, including an ever-growing range of affordable alternatives to animal products, such as meat, eggs, and milk. You can also choose a low-cost, whole-foods plant-based lifestyle with everyday grocery store items. A vegan lifestyle is accessible to everyone, during Veganuary and beyond.
On local soil, ProVeg South Africa is a partner of Veganuary and will share various tips and delicious recipes to use for any occasion. They will also be promoting several events to celebrate the exciting month of Veganuary. No one has to go at it alone. Be part of a community that cares about making the best decisions for humans, animals, and the planet.
Veganuary globally
International backers of Veganuary also continue to grow with New York Mayor Eric Adams, world-renowned chef Matthew Kenney, and Dragon Den’s Deborah Meaden joining the campaign this year. Tennis legend Venus Williams, Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey, singer Bryan Adams, and primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall have all donated their favourite vegan recipes to Veganuary’s 2022 cookbook. All participants of Vegannuary will receive this digital cookbook.
Chris Packham, nature photographer and television presenter, did Veganuary in 2019 and is encouraging everyone who cares about climate change to take part this January in the charity’s new campaign video. He’s joined by Hollyoaks star Eva O’Hara, Emmerdale’s James Moore, TV presenter Jasmine Harman, Dirty Sanchez star Matt Pritchard and Benjamin Zephaniah with heartfelt messages of encouragement.
>>> View the new 2022 campaign video here
>>> View and download celebrity images, quotes and recipes here
>>> View and download Veganuary’s new 2022 campaign ads here
Veganuary’s Head of Communications, Toni Vernelli, says: “Climate change is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and one key solution is at everyone’s finger-tips – their fork.”
She added: “Although changing our diets is crucial to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, it can seem daunting. Signing up to Veganuary makes it much easier as our free pledge is full of helpful tips and advice, including a seven-day low carbon meal plan highlighting simple swaps that slash the carbon footprint of classic British dishes.”
A recent survey* found that six months after completing their one-month Veganuary challenge, 82% of those participants who were not vegan when they signed-up had maintained a dramatic reduction in their animal product consumption. Thirty per cent were still eating a fully vegan diet, 38% were eating at least 75% less meat and other animal products than pre-Veganuary and 14% were eating at least 50% less.
*The survey was sent by Veganuary to 65% of the 582,000 people who signed-up during the 2021 campaign. 8,690 people responded.
For more information from ProVeg South Africa or to set up interviews, please contact:
Arleen Nel
Communication Coordinator (ProVeg South Africa)
T: 072 649 2346
Simamkele Cikizwa Nyembezi
Programmes Assistant (ProVeg South Africa)
T: 071 813 5743
Media contact for Veganuary:
Toni Vernelli
International Head of Communications, Veganuary
T: 07505 866 548
END OF PRESS RELEASE
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ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation working to transform the global food system by replacing animal-based products with plant-based and cultured alternatives.
ProVeg works with decision-making bodies, companies, investors, the media, and the general public to help the world transition to a society and economy that are less reliant on animal agriculture and more sustainable for all humans, animals, and our planet.
ProVeg has offices in nine countries across four continents and is active around the world. ProVeg has permanent observer status with the UNFCCC, special consultative status with ECOSOC is accredited for UNEA, and has received the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Award.
ProVeg South Africa’s Diet Change Not Climate Change Billboard and TV Campaign
ProVeg South Africa will be running billboards and TV adverts linking animal agriculture and climate change.
Here is a link to the TV ad: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aqHUJgar9qBzzP0WaHwUQotH9beSUrMC/view?usp=sharing
