World Vegan Day - 2022

“Don’t Have a Cow, Man!”- World Vegan Day 2022

Tuesday 1st November is World Vegan Day, an annual celebration that raises awareness of what veganism is and the benefits that come alongside. But what does it actually mean to be a vegan?

The word vegan, meaning abstinence from animal products, was coined in the 1940s, by Donald Watson and his then future wife Dorothy Morgan. Although known since the early 20th Century, popularity and interest in veganism only had a surge in the 2010s. With vegan food brands becoming more accessible and the rise of vegan only eateries such as popular pizzeria Purezza and Doner Summer, it has become more easier to adopt a vegan, or predominantly plant-based diet, than ever before.

In the early 2010s, you would find yourself scouring supermarket shelves to find something vegan friendly – however, this is no longer the case. Brands such as Alpro, Vivera, THIS? and What The Cluck to name a few, are now widely available for consumers, with major supermarkets having a dedicated plant-based aisle or free-from section to shop from. Popular meat brands such as Richmond now sell vegan friendly alternatives, which have rose in popularity over the past couple of years.

New Year’s Resolutions can be hard to think of, which is where try-vegan campaign, aptly called Veganuary, comes in. Veganuary is an annual challenge run by a UK non-profit organisation that encourages people to attempt a vegan diet for the month of January. Starting in 2014, the campaign reached a whopping 513,000 sign ups in 2021.

More people are converting to veganism due to seeing familiar celebrities promote the diet – such as Olympian Mo Farah being an ambassador for Quorn, and Drag Race alumni Bimini Bon Boulash focusing her persona on veganism; the more people they can resonate with, the easier to convert.

There are many environmental benefits alongside health benefits that you can get from veganism. Having 1 vegan day a week – which is just 52 days a year – can save nearly 153 kilograms of CO2 per year! Streaming service Netflix have educational documentaries available to watch such as Cowspiracy and What The Health, which can help you learn more about veganism and its benefits.

For more information about World Vegan Day visit World Vegan Day on 1 November - celebrating for a good cause - World Vegan Day (vegan-day.org), or for information regarding veganism, visit The Vegan Society |

Written by Isaac, Marketing Executive