Adopt plant-forward / plant-based procurement policy
Why this action matters
Evidence-groundedA plant-forward procurement policy is justified because shifting toward plant-based diets can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and other environmental impacts associated with food production, as evidenced by studies showing that animal products often have markedly higher environmental footprints than their plant-based alternatives. Such a policy would align with global efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable food systems by incentivizing lower-impact food choices at scale.
Concept connections
LLM-generatedBBiosphere SSociety EEconomy · ▶effects of this action ◀prerequisites · Click a concept to explore related actions
Consequences of this action
Evidence-groundedThe action itself
Adopting a formal procurement policy that prioritises plant-forward and plant-based food options across all catering and supply contracts ensures that institutional purchasing decisions systematically reduce reliance on animal-based products and support the scaling of plant-based food systems.
UK implications
In the UK, this policy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food procurement by shifting demand away from high-impact animal products, which account for ~83% of land use and 18% of calories, while also promoting healthier dietary patterns linked to lower risks of chronic disease.
Global implications
By creating a consistent demand for plant-based foods, UK institutional procurement would send strong signals to global food markets, encouraging investment in plant-protein supply chains and reducing the environmental footprint of food production on a global scale, including reductions in land use and biodiversity loss.
National policy stance
No dataCouncil positions (15)
Supporting — 7
Scientific foundation
Domain-level evidence from the peer-reviewed library
Equity & Access
The current global diet uses 4.13 billion ha of land, with 43 per cent of cropland used to raise farmed animals rather than feed humans directly [Rockström et al., 2023]. Animal products can markedly exceed those of vegetable substitutes in terms of environmental impact, with meat, aquaculture, eggs, and dairy using ~83% of land and 18% of our calories [Poore et al., 2018]. The global food system is a primary driver of environmental degradation, with deforestation for pastures destroying habitats and releasing carbon [Rockström et al., 2023]. Agriculture is responsible for 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals, making it the primary victim when water sources dry up [Rockström et al., 2023]. The consumption of animal products delivers greater environmental impact than substitute vegetable proteins across GHG emissions, eutrophication, and land use [Poore et al., 2018].
Food Security
The current global diet uses 4.13 billion ha of land, with 43 per cent of cropland used to raise farmed animals rather than feed humans directly [Rockström et al., 2023]. Animal products can markedly exceed those of vegetable substitutes in terms of environmental impact, with meat, aquaculture, eggs, and dairy using ~83% of land and 18% of our calories [Poore et al., 2018]. The global food system is a primary driver of environmental degradation, with deforestation for pastures destroying habitats and releasing carbon [Rockström et al., 2023]. Agriculture is responsible for 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals, making it the primary victim when water sources dry up [Rockström et al., 2023]. The consumption of animal products delivers greater environmental impact than substitute vegetable proteins across GHG emissions, eutrophication, and land use [Poore et al., 2018].