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Why this action matters
Backed by researchA 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
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What this action would change
Backed by researchThe 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.
What it would change in the UK
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.
What it would change worldwide
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.
Where national politics stands
Nothing recorded yetWhat councils have decided (15)
Supporting — 7
The research behind it
Published research about food and farming as a whole, not this action in particular
We are holding this summary back until we have checked it
This summary was written before we started checking summaries against the papers they cite, so it has not been checked.
Research and reports on this action
Food Supply
UK Health Security Agency - HECC · 2023
Open the full report to read the findings ↗
“There is a strong relationship between the amount of animal-based foods in a diet and its environmental impact, including GHG emissions, land use, water use, eutrophication and biodiversity. Dietary shifts away from animal-based foods can make a substantial contribution to reduction of the UK environmental footprint. Uncertainty due to region of origin and methods of food production do not obscure these differences between diet groups and should not be a barrier to policy action aimed at reducing animal-based food consumption.”
Vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters and meat-eaters in the UK show discrepant environmental impacts
Nature Food · 2023
Research that argues the other way
We are holding this summary back until we have checked it
This summary was written before we started checking summaries against the papers they cite, so it has not been checked.