World Vegan Day on 1st November – Celebrating for a good cause…

The vegan way of life is increasingly establishing itself in our society as a way of life that can be practiced not only easily, but above all without the need to cause animal suffering for one’s own food and clothing.

The range of vegan products available in stores is growing so that the fact that veganism is on the advance in our society can no longer be denied.

The number of hotels and restaurants that focus on animal-free food has increased enormously in recent years. Long ago the fear of many Veganer, was that purely vegetable nutrition is only a temporary, social trend, the conviction gave way that the Veganismus with its contribution for animal and environmental protection finding its place worldwide.

Vegans would like to have their conscious life attitude and the way to a peaceable and pollution-free future recognised. This possibility is offered once a year officially on the so-called World Vegan Day, which is celebrated on November 1st.

The history of World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day originated in England in 1994, when vegan animal rights activist Louise Wallis was looking for a suitable setting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society. As President of the Vegan Society, her aim was not only to emphasise the continued existence of a vegan association but also to draw attention to the fact that the word ‘vegan’ had found its way into the English language.

Wallis set November 1 as the date, as it falls exactly between October 31, which is Halloween, and the Mexican Day of the Dead, which falls on November 2. Since November 1, 1994, World Vegan Day has thus provided a welcome occasion for vegans in all parts of the world to celebrate and further promote veganism with all its positive aspects.

A ‘day of action’ with a higher sense

World Vegan Day is not only about exchanging ideas with like-minded people and to honour Veganism. In the foreground on this day above all the clearing-up work is located: Humans, who do not have so far yet or only little entrance to the veganen way of life, are to be brought by information material or leaflets to the thinking and reorientation. The active dialogue with omnivores or vegetarians regarding their consumer behaviour and the advantages of a purely vegetable food plays an important role.

Finally Veganer, which take part in the Weltvegantag actively, want to make attentive to the fact that each individual can make its contribution for animal and environmental protection and change thus much – completely after the slogan Gandhis: “Be you yourself the change, which you wish yourselves for this world.”

Vegan Stats*

• The first-ever newsletter by The Vegan Society records that there were just 25 members.
• The Vegan Trademark was introduced in 1990 to help businesses showcase their products meeting the authentic international vegan standard set by The Vegan Society. Today, over 63,000 products from more than 2,500 companies are registered globally, including 25,000 cosmetics and toiletries, and 18,000 food and drink items.
• In 2021 alone The Vegan Society registered an impressive 16,439 products with The Vegan Trademark. Over 82% of our product registrations have come in the last five years.
• The Vegan Trademark is present in 87 countries around the world, with over 50% of products registered coming from companies based outside of the UK.
• Meat alternatives have a fifth to less than a tenth of the environmental impact of meat products
• 48% of British adults say they consume plant-based milk alternatives
• A third of shoppers are cutting down or ditching animal products in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

Go Vegan with the Co-op!

We love giving you food options that are tasty, convenient and exciting – this trend continues with our plant-based options. Whether you’re vegan, veggie or flexi, our selection is growing continuously.

We’re making it easier for everyone to choose vegan. Our GRO range offers delicious food for every occasion and costs the same as our meat and dairy equivalents.**

Food for thought

For ideas on vegan recipes please visit: https://food.chelmsfordstar.coop/food/recipes

*Source: The Vegan Society 2022.

**We identified all the products in the GRO range, and matched these to their nearest like for like equivalent Co-op own brand product where one was available. For example GRO Vegan Sausage 350g to Co-op Butcher’s Choice Pork Sausages 454g. Taking into account the weight difference, we have reduced the GRO products to be the same price or cheaper per g/ml.