Sustainability / Environment

PawCo Plant-Based Dog Food

©PawCo

Former Impossible Foods Employee Launches “World’s First” Pet Food Made from Plant-Based Meat

Pet food startup PawCo announces the launch of its proprietary dog food made from plant-based meat. Founded by Dr. Mahsa Vazin, a former Impossible Foods employee, PawCo also reveals it raised a seed round earlier this year for an undisclosed amount.  According to the brand, it has invented the world’s first fully plant-based meat designed specifically for pet food. Made to be as tasty as traditional meat, PawCo says its recipe contains all the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals most adult dogs need to thrive. Its product offerings feature plant-based protein mixed with a variety of fruit and vegetables; including Peanut Butter and Apple, Green Mix and Carrots, and Blueberries and Veggies.  Because the foods are animal product-free, they are also recommended for pets …

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Plant Based Treaty

© Plant Based Treaty

Haywards Heath Becomes First Town in Europe to Endorse the Plant Based Treaty for Climate Change

The town of Haywards Heath, in the English county of West Sussex, today becomes the first town in Europe to join the Plant Based Treaty initiative, following 17 municipal governments worldwide, including Boynton Beach in Florida and Rosario in Argentina. Haywards Heath Town Council is launching an Education and Business Environmental Awards Scheme, with the Plant Based Treaty and food waste reduction as cornerstones of these initiatives. Calls for Glastonbury to follow suit Climate campaigners are calling on other towns and cities to follow Haywards Heath’s lead, and a petition calling Glastonbury to endorse the Plant Based Treaty has attracted almost 5,000 signatures. 100 councillors from almost 60 towns and cities have individually signed the Plant Based Treaty from parties including Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, …

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Shaunagh_Duncan, Oatly UK

Shaunagh Duncan, Head of Sustainability ©Oatly UK

Oatly: “It is Absolutely Achievable for the UK to Significantly Reduce its Consumption of Animal Products”

Shaunagh Duncan, Head of Sustainability at Oatly UK and Marisa Heath, Chief Executive, Plant-Based Food Alliance UK, spent some time discussing their insights into sustainability, the UK’s food strategy, the school milk campaign, and driving the systemic shift towards plant-based in order to avoid climate disaster. What is your opinion on the recent UK government’s food strategy? Shaunagh Duncan: It is incredibly disappointing that the Government’s food strategy lacked any mention of plant-based products and made no recommendations around the reduction of dairy and meat consumption. We had hoped to hear new plans for all school children to be given access to a vegan school meal option, but this was also not included.  Food production is responsible for a third of global GHG emissions – …

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One Planet Pizza packaging

@OnePlanetPizza

New Study Shows 71% of Americans are Purchasing, Thinking About Plant-Based Products and Packaging

A new study conducted by The Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) shows strong consumer awareness and interest in plant-derived products made from renewable materials such as hemp, soy and corn. The findings also show consumers hold more favorable attitudes toward the companies, farmers and policymakers actively involved in sustainability efforts.  Among the report’s most significant findings, 71% of American consumers say they consciously think about packaging and products made with plant-based materials when they shop. Consumers also cited recyclability, composability, and the environment as primary motivations for purchasing a plant-made product, while 21% cited inaccessible waste disposable as the top deterrent for purchasing such items. As the 2022 midterms approach, 66% of consumers favor voting for a candidate who has shown support for sustainability initiatives …

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Climate Change Sign No Planet B

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Plant-Based Food Alliance Implores UK to Fight Climate Change by Cutting Out Animal Products

The Plant-Based Food Alliance UK has called on the country’s government and citizens to tackle climate change by reducing the number of animal products consumed. In the wake of record-breaking heatwaves, the organisation has pointed to research by Oxford University which found that individuals’ carbon footprints could be reduced by 73% by switching to a plant-based diet. Furthermore, CEO Marisa Heath says the UK government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050 cannot possibly be met without a reduction in meat consumption. In light of this, the Plant-Based Food Alliance has called on the government to take specific actions to encourage the consumption of plant-based foods. These include environmental labelling of food and drink products, public health campaigns explaining how people can incorporate more plant-based …

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Chinova Bioworks Chiber Yogurt Preservative

©Chinova Bioworks

Chinova Bioworks’ Chiber Mushroom Preservative Receives FDA GRAS Status

Canadian food tech startup Chinova Bioworks has received a No Questions Letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) application for Chiber Mushroom Fiber. The letter indicates the ingredient is now permitted for use in food applications.  Acting as a natural food and beverage preservative, Chiber is derived from the upcycled stems of white button mushrooms. According to Chinova, it can improve the quality, freshness and shelf-life of many food and beverage products including plant-based meats, baked goods, hummus and dairy-free yogurt.  Prior to receiving the No Questions letter, Chinova worked with an independent panel of scientists and consulted with Intertek, a top quality assurance and testing provider, to develop and implement the testing needed for its …

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Gomorrah Weekender Compostable Shirt

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Gomorrah Introduces “World’s First” Compostable, Plant-Based Luxury Menswear Shirts

In an industry still dominated by fast fashion and disposable culture, Gomorrah is one menswear brand on a mission to create compostable, plant-based luxury clothing. In the US alone, 22 billion pounds of clothing are thrown away in landfills every year, often polluting the environment with toxic dyes and plastic-derived fibers that can take centuries to break down. In response to this ongoing crisis, Gomorrah has embraced sustainability by creating the Compostable Collection, the world’s first 100% compostable and vegan-friendly shirts in luxury menswear.  Elegance meets eco-friendly The soon-to-be-launched collection features premium button-down shirts made with fully organic cotton, non-toxic dyes, and zero-waste buttons. Most importantly, the brand states, the shirts are designed with the garment’s entire life cycle in mind, and made only with …

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Greenforce ambassador Patrik Baboumian

Brand Ambassador Patrik Baboumian ©GREENFORCE

All UK Aviation Emissions Could Be Offset with Pea Protein Swap Just 2X a Week

New data analysis from German plant-based startup GREENFORCE has revealed yet another positive impact of a shift towards plant-based diets in the fight against climate change. By swapping to foods derived from pea protein instead of beef just twice a week, the company claims the UK could offset the equivalent of all its aviation emissions.  The findings show how the UK could save 2.4 million (67,257,008 tonnes of CO2e) metric tonnes of methane emissions per year if the average person switches two beef meals per week to pea protein, according to GREENFORCE. The company’s analysis shows how pea protein boasts a virtually non-existent methane footprint when compared to animal products, particularly beef and lamb.  GREENFORCE – which recently launched the world’s most sustainable sausage – …

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BAIA Honey Panna Cotta

©BAIA/ MeliBio

MeliBio Partners with San Francisco’s BAIA to Debut Exclusive Bee-Free Honey Menu

MeliBio, a startup making real honey without bees, announces its groundbreaking honey is now available at San Francisco’s BAIA restaurant for a limited time. From July to September, guests at BAIA can order the startup’s award-winning honey in two exclusive summertime dishes. The new collaboration comes ahead of MeliBio’s official launch at select US restaurants later this year.  BAIA will feature the honey, which MeliBio says is indistinguishable in taste and texture from conventional honey, in two plant-based menu items – a bruschetta appetizer with tomato, chili and basil and bee-free honeycomb panna cotta.  Filling a “critical gap” in flavor According to BAIA Executive Chef Joshua Yap, the brand’s honey helps to fill a critical gap in flavor. “Many times while developing a new plant-based …

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Vikas Garg standing on street

Vikas Garg © abillion

With $2M for Global Sustainability, abillion Sets Record For Donations Made by Early-Stage Company

abillion, the global sustainability platform, says that its core product, the abillion app, has grown to over a million members and 53,000 content creators have collectively earned and donated $2,000,000 to abillion’s coalition of partners. The app is now available in 171 countries, in English, Spanish, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese. abillion explains that the app is unique in that it rewards contributors for promoting sustainable practices, whereby the content creators receive a financial incentive that can be donated to the coalition of 63 non-profits addressing animal welfare, diet change, conservation and reforestation around the world. Animal Sanctuaries Many sanctuaries rely on abillion’s funding to expand capacity, grow educational programs, and purchase land, feed and supplies.  “During the pandemic, abillion enabled us to continue to raise …

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Climate change and global warming concept. Children sitting on drying lake with the sky turning orange by an pollution from industrial or city.

© piyaset -stock.adobe.com

New Report Discusses Shift to Alt Proteins as Most High-Impact Solution for Addressing Climate Crisis

A new report published today by BCG and Blue Horizon reveals that investing in plant-based proteins saves the most CO2 – at least twice the positive impact of investments in sustainable cement, iron, steel, chemicals or transport. It also finds that over 30% of consumers would fully switch their diets to alt proteins to make a positive climate impact. The first report from BCG and Blue Horizon as published last year, titled Food for Thought, posited that Europe and North America could reach “peak meat” by 2025, from when the consumption of animal protein will be in decline. The study went on to be a widely-cited industry standard on the future of alt protein. Alt protein shift as most efficient and high impact solution This …

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Bakery chain Greggs opens eco shop

© Greggs

UK Bakery Chain Greggs Opens Eco-Shop to Trial Sustainability Initiatives

British high-street bakery chain Greggs has opened an Eco-Shop in Great Billing, Northampton, to test out new sustainability solutions. Technologies currently being trialled at the store include environmentally friendly ovens, air-assisted toilets, heat pump air curtains, and more. Those that prove successful will be rolled out at other Greggs stores nationwide. The new store is part of the Greggs Pledge, a set of ten ethical and sustainable commitments made by the company. The sixth commitment relates to opening “shops of the future” and incorporating sustainable solutions into 250 existing stores by the end of the year. Through better waste management and reducing energy and water usage, Greggs aims to become carbon neutral and install Eco-Shop elements at a quarter of its stores. Plant-based at Greggs …

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VegTech ETF

©Lien Pham

VegTech and Top Investors Celebrate NYSE Listing of EATV – First Plant-Based Innovation ETF

On June 23rd, VegTech Invest gathered nearly 100 investors, bankers, innovators and Broadway entertainers to celebrate the listing of the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF (NYSE: EATV) on the New York Stock Exchange. The event included a visit to the exchange floor for a fund overview and a toast by members of The Good Food Institute. VegTech Invest advises the VegTech ETF, which first launched in December 2021 as the world’s first ETF focused on plant-based innovation and alternative proteins. According to VegTech, the ETF is a “pure play” in plant-based industries and is helping the sector gain critical exposure. As of May, its top constituents include Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND), Ingredion (NYSE:INGR), Oatly (NASDAQ: OTLY), Gingko BioWorks (NASDAQ: DNA) and Vitasoy International (HK:345).  “With …

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Chinova Bioworks

Co-founders David Brown and Natasha Dhayagude ©Chinova Bioworks

Chinova Closes $6M Series A to Expand Chiber – A Novel Preservative Made from Upcycled Mushrooms

Canadian food tech startup Chinova Bioworks announces it has secured $6M in Series A funding to expand production of Chiber™– a novel clean-label preservative extracted from mushrooms. The funding will also be used to grow Chinova’s team, create new products and enhance its production capabilities on Prince Edward Island.  Derived from the stems of upcycled white mushrooms, Chiber is a natural, allergen-free fiber that helps improve the quality, freshness and shelf-life of a wide variety of foods. It can be incorporated into plant-based meats and dairy, as well as baked goods, beverages and sauces, the company states. In the application of dairy-free yogurt, the startup says Chiber is the first clean-label ingredient that protects probiotic cultures and inhibits spoilage. Reducing waste To source its mushrooms, …

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Umaro Foods Bacon in Pan

©Umaro Foods

New Report Says Alt Protein is On Track to Shape Multi-Trillion Dollar Food Market

A new report by consultancy firm Bain & Company and capital fund ZINTINUS says the “transformation of the world’s food market towards a more sustainable model is now at a tipping point, within an annual global food market of US $8 trillion.” Sustainability will define the future food supply, and the report identifies alternative proteins as a key trend to help the sector improve consumers’ health while reducing food waste and its overall carbon footprint.  According to the report, 40% of Millenials and Gen Z say they have been eating more healthily since the start of the pandemic, with 75% saying they spend more on buying sustainable food products. While plant-based foods still only make up about 1% of the total food market, they are …

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