Friendsurance #VEGGIEBYDEFAULT

I grew up on a farm and I'm used to seing a dead elk on the kitchen table ready to be carefully cut by the whole family into different pieces and the placed in the freezer. The result of it was enjoyed for a whole year before a new elk would land on the table the next fall. Barbarian to some, a respectful act to me. I also enjoy a hamburger after an evening after of way to many gin&tonics. Preferably though, from a former happy animal who has lived outside on gras and not been tortured on transportation through a continent.

The facts are pretty clear on that we need to eat less meat. However, to be a complete veggie is not something I would look much forward to. Luckily that has also not been demanded of us. Only to eat less. Three meat free days a week is already suppose to do marvels for our environment. Not eating meat three days a week at home is actually a very easy thing to do. At home for us it means; pancakes, pasta&something green, rice porridge. (Yeah I know, we have kids.) In addition we eat fish two days a week so I dont really think that meeting this demand is difficult from home.

But of relevance here is what is offered to us at work. Here we tend to eat what is served. We will potentially bitch about that it was a pretty mediocre delivery, but the next meal will be just as accidentally consumed as the last one.

This is why I suggested that Friendsurance as a company goes Veggie by Default.

What does Veggie by Default mean?

The standard has been that people who does not want meat have to let others know. Veggie by default means that you assume everyone wants vegetarian food, and those who have to give notice are those who want meat.

Nobody is rejected the possibility to eat meat. Every team member is free to do so. But the powerful element in this small change is that eating meat is made a deliberate decision. In stead of just chewing down a animal who accidentally landed on your plate, you end up asking yourself

Do I need meat for this meal?

The consequences for you are pretty small, but for the environment potentially big.

Believe it or not but this change was started in official bureaucratic offices. Not in innovative startups. We just wanted to follow up this good idea. (Cause when you think about it, it is kind of embarrassing that we did not all do this before them right?)

How is Veggie by Default implemented in Friendsurance?

All the everyday free food offers we have were already vegetarian, when we started looking at this. We offer fruit, nuts, coffee, tea, müsli and milk from both cow and from vegan alternatives. So this change was actually only about what we eat once we order for meetings or events. And for these meals the only change was that we changed this little question before we order; who needs veggie option turned into who needs meat?

When we asked the team if we wanted to go Veggie by Default as a company, it was in general big support and in addition to the first replies there were a lot of separate opinions and some suggestions on taking this further. But some team members als felt concerned. They were afraid of being forced into an eating culture that was not theirs and probably thought that I had become a vegetarian so suddenly everyone had to be one.

However, after implementing it, there as been no protests, because those who feel like they need meat notice that they still eat get it.

Are we as a team eating less meat than before?

Yes we are. We already had a quite many vegetarians and vegans. But what is new is that we activated a new big group in the middle who now very seldom say they want meat. Before this majority ate meat when we ordered something, now they eats vegetarian food.

Their reasons are quite mixed. Many just realised that they don't need it and others feel better because they prefer only eating bio-meat from local farmers and don't know where the meat in our ordered food comes from. All in all one can say the enthusiasm for what we order has increases.

Are those eating meat outsiders or frowned upon?

Not at all. Many Germans eat their main meal during lunch time and several of our team members exercise quite much. We are well aware that whether meat is something you need or not is a discussion in itself, but this is not something we meddle in. It is not our intent to demand something of our team members, simply given them the possibility to make a deliberate choice.

Is this really relevant in these corona and home office days?

I believe so. Currently a lot of restaurants are struggling at the same time as we are feeling trapped at home. Getting some delivery suddenly serve a greater good at the same time as you have less dishing to do. The same questions applies here; you can ask yourself; do I need meat for this meal? Looking at the newly launched options of EAT there seems to be quite some delicious vegetarian alternatives out there..

Join the Veggie by Default movement

We would be proud if we could kick off a positive movement in the Berlin Startup Scene. Let us know if you implement Veggie by Default as well. I believe it is where meat eaters, veggies and vegans meet and do well together.