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Beyond Meat, Konscious & Banza Among the Winners of peta2’s Libby Awards 2024

December 18, 2024December 18, 2024

peta2, the youth-oriented US subsidiary of animal rights charity PETA, has revealed the winners of its annual Libby Awards, which recognize brands and celebrities with a commitment to animals. Here are all the winners and top nominees in the food categories: Favorite Nondairy Product Winner: Aldi Barissimo Non-Dairy Oat Milk Cold Foam Other nominees: Tabitha Brown for Target Sweet Pea & Basil Ravioli Icelandic Provisions Vanilla Bean Oatmilk Skyr. Bored Cow Pumpkin Spice Animal-Free Milk Favorite Vegan Frozen Option Winner: Banza Vegan Margherita Pizza Other nominees: Strong Roots Chipotle Mac Daring. Buffalo Plant Chicken Wing Trader Joe’s Kimbap Favorite Vegan Meat Winner: Beyond Burger Avocado Oil Plant-Based Patties Other nominees: Trader Joe’s Vegan Pepperoni Oscar Mayer Bun Length Plant Based Not Hot Dogs MorningStar Farms …

Topics:

Awards

Food & Beverage

PETA UK Reveals Winners of Vegan Food Awards 2024

October 29, 2024

PETA UK has revealed the results of its annual Vegan Food Awards, featuring 15 categories. The winners for 2024 are: Best Cheese: La Fauxmagerie – Brixton Blue This artisan vegan cheese is made from coconut oil, almonds, and vegan cultures. It has been praised by celebrity chef Theo Michaels, who said, “I was hesitant about vegan cheese – until now. Wow! My tastebuds have just been blown. The Brixton Blue is ripe, creamy, full of flavour, and has a certain brittleness that I’d hoped for. It’d pair perfectly with a serendipitously placed glass of red wine.” The plant-based cheese is available from Waitrose and La Fauxmagerie’s website. Best Milk: Oato – Barista Whole Oato is a fresh milk alternative made in Lancashire from 100% British …

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Awards

Society

PETA Warns US Meat Companies to Learn from Mistakes of Tobacco Farmers and “Get Out Now!”

October 1, 2024

PETA is urging five major US meat companies—Hormel Foods, Cargill, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, and Oscar Mayer—to shift their focus from animal-based products to vegan alternatives, following the example set by one of Italy’s oldest meat producers, Gruppo Tonazzo. Gruppo Tonazzo recently announced that it will stop selling meat entirely and concentrate solely on plant-based products. Albino Tonazzo, CEO of the company’s plant-based brand Kioene, explained that the shift is motivated by a “deep responsibility to future generations” and a commitment to environmental preservation. In letters sent to the CEOs of the US companies, PETA noted the growing consumer demand for plant-based foods and the environmental and ethical concerns associated with animal agriculture. The group explained that all five companies have already introduced vegan products …

Topics:

Plant-based transition

Vegan fish and chips by The No Catch Co. Image supplied by PETA

Gastronomy & Food Service

PETA Reveals The “UK’s Best” Vegan Fish and Chips Spots

June 10, 2024

Animal rights charity PETA has published a list titled “The UK’s Best Vegan Fish and Chips Spots”, highlighting eateries around the country serving plant-based versions of the classic British dish. Among the top-rated spots are: The Good Catch Co — Founded by activist Ed Winters (Earthling Ed) and his business partner Kevyn Bourke, this plant-based fish and chip shop in Brighton has an impressive menu featuring battered “cod” and smoked “haddock”, along with Popcorn Prawnz, lemon “shrimp”, and vegan calamari. In 2021, Winters and Bourke told vegconomist that their aim was to “take on the fish and chip industry”. Harbour Lights — This Falmouth shop has been recognised for its tofu-based vegan fish, which is marinated in brine and lemon juice before being wrapped in …

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Fish and Chips

Materials

PETA Survey Finds Significant Increase in Brands Offering Vegan Car Interiors

May 10, 2024

A survey by animal rights charity PETA has found a considerable increase in brands offering vegan car interiors worldwide. PETA contacted the most popular car brands in the biggest global markets to find out whether they offer interiors free of animal-derived materials such as leather and wool. Cabin surfaces, seats, trim, and steering wheels were all taken into account. Mercedes-Benz and BMW confirmed that they now offer several models with vegan interiors; the latter recently announced that the 5 Series Touring would feature seat surfaces made from an innovative leather alternative called Veganza. Fiat also offers animal-free interiors, as does Volkswagen for several of its models available on the German market. Volvo, Citroën, Dacia, Peugeot, Renault, smart, and Polestar all offer vegan interior options either …

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automotive

Image courtesy of ProVeg International

Agriculture / Agribusiness

PETA Study Reveals Transformative Power of Animal-Free Agriculture with Potential to Cut 84% of Emissions

April 25, 2024

A new PETA study entitled Rethinking Agriculture, authored by Prof Jan Wirsam of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, showcases the transformative potential of animal-free agriculture. It argues that adopting vegan organic farming could revolutionize our agricultural systems. The research highlights an impressive potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 84%, reducing them to 6.1 million tonnes annually. Moreover, the need for agricultural land could dramatically decrease from 14 million hectares to just 5 million hectares by eliminating animal feed production. The study provides a detailed analysis of how vegan organic farming can transform the entire agricultural and food system, focusing on global warming reduction, biodiversity protection, and increased efficiency in using natural resources, while also reducing animal suffering. It offers actionable recommendations …

Non-Food

PETA India Reveals Winners of Vegan Fashion Awards 2023

November 27, 2023

PETA India has announced the winners of its 2023 Vegan Fashion Awards, which recognise brands and designers working to remove animals from the fashion industry. The winners are: Best Vegan Fashion Moment: The Central Leather Research Institute, for developing technology to make vegan leather using mango pulp. Best Vegan Style Icon: Bollywood star Wamiqa Gabbi, for her animal advocacy and leather-free fashion. Best Vegan Sneakers: Gorilla Lifestyle, a vegan streetwear brand targeted at young people. Best Vegan Kids’ Shoes: Aretto, for its leather-free adjustable shoes that can expand up to three sizes as a child grows. The brand has been backed by cricketer Hardik Pandya. Best Vegan Sarees: Swachhata Pukare Foundation, which makes silk-free handloom sarees from fibres extracted from water hyacinths. Best Vegan Personal …

Image courtesy of Squeaky Bean

Food & Beverage

PETA UK Names Winners of Vegan Food Awards 2023

October 19, 2023

Animal rights organisation PETA UK has revealed the winners of its Vegan Food Awards for 2023. This year’s awards feature 21 categories, recognising the following products and companies. Best Vegan Milk: Marks & Spencer Chilled British Oat Drink. This new product by M&S is one of the first plant-based milks to be sold in the same bottles as conventional cow’s milk. Best Vegan Chicken: VFC Chick*n Stompers. VFC previously won this award for its original plant-based chicken range in 2021, and has taken the top spot again with a new option for kids. Best Vegan Burger: THIS Isn’t Beef Burgers. Newly reformulated, these burgers contain 30% less saturated fat than beef and have a much lower carbon footprint. Best Vegan Meat: Redefine Meat Beef Flank. …

Topics:

Awards

Non-Food

Global Apparal Giant VF Corporation Commits to Cashmere-Free Products

September 21, 2023

VF Corporation, the parent company of popular fashion brands Timberland, The North Face, Vans, and Jansport, has announced its decision to discontinue the use of cashmere in its products, as announced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The company has confirmed that none of its core products across its brand portfolio currently contain goat hair, and there are no plans to introduce new cashmere-containing items. While there may still be items containing cashmere in stores, no new products will be produced using the material. Phasing out cashmere VF Corporation joins a growing list of fashion industry players, such as Victoria’s Secret, ASOS, Supreme, PINK, Le Château, and others, that have already phased out cashmere from their products. Notably, Victoria’s Secret ceased using …

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cashmere

Food Service

PETA Honors 2023’s Most Vegan-Friendly Canteens in Germany

August 4, 2023

For the seventh time, PETA has surveyed university canteens nationwide on various aspects of veganism. Based on the responses of the 41 participating student unions, awards were given in terms of gastronomic stars, and the most vegan-friendly canteens in 2023 were crowned. The “Mensa Pasteria TU Veggie 2.0 – the vegan cafeteria” has only vegan offers. Around 500 portions of food in the form of 9 to 12 vegan dishes are served daily. In addition to the main dishes, starters, soups, salads with various dressings and desserts are also available. Vegan dishes are also offered in the other canteens of the Studierendenwerk Berlin. There is also a vegan-vegetarian canteen. The assessment criteria related mainly to the daily range of vegan dishes, the special training of …

A chair upholstered with vegan leather Piñatex

Materials

PETA UK 2023 Vegan Homeware Awards Winners Revealed

September 12, 2023July 24, 2023

PETA UK has announced the winners of its 2023 Vegan Homeware Awards. This annual initiative recognizes brands and designers making cruelty-free products to meet the growing demand for sustainable, compassionate home decor. Avoiding leather, feathers, wool, and silk, the winners of the seventh edition of the awards propose chairs upholstered with pineapple leather, coconut wax candles, luxurious silk-free sheets, and even a plant milk maker to avoid dairy and artificial ingredients. BEST STATEMENT PIECE Tamasine Osher — Purton chair in Piñatex Designer Tamasine Osher has created a chair with a steel, brass, or bronze frame with upholstery available in Piñatex or other materials called the Purton. This planet-friendly chair proves that furniture can be sleek and sophisticated without harming animals, says PETA. BEST WOOL-FREE THROW Piglet in Bed — Blue Café au Lait …

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Awards

el origen founder Gordon Prox © Sarah Buth

Sweets & Snacks

Plantain Chips Developed by YouTuber Gordon Prox Win PETA Vegan Food Award

April 5, 2023

El origen, a German snack brand inspired by Latin American ingredients, has received a PETA Vegan Food Award for its organic salted plantain chips. The brand was founded in 2019 by Gordon Prox, the vlogger behind the popular YouTube channel Vegan ist Ungesund (Vegan is Unhealthy). The channel discusses vegan nutrition and showcases the latest plant-based products. “We are super proud that our delicious chips beat the competition!” said Prox. El origen’s award-winning snacks are made with just three ingredients — plantain, sunflower oil, and sea salt. Their taste and sustainable production impressed judges enough to take first place in the Best Vegan Chips category. Creating jobs in Ecuador Gordon Prox was introduced to Latin American culture by his Mexican fiancee, and became inspired to …

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Awards

Northwood Farm

Agriculture / Agribusiness

PETA UK Celebrates “Sowers of Compassion” With First Farming Awards

February 3, 2023

The first ever PETA UK Farming Awards has taken place, recognising ten farms across the country for their contributions to ethical, animal-free farming. The winners include growers of seafood, a producer of soybeans for tofu, and a former beef farmer who sent his cows to a sanctuary. The award winners are as follows: Aweside Farm — A grower of organic edible flowers, leaves, and herbs. The farm is also working to create habitats for wildlife, such as ponds, meadows, and hedgerows. IC Mushrooms — Producing oyster mushrooms, shiitakes, and more using sustainable raw vegan ingredients. Courses in mushroom growing are also offered at the farm. Northwood Farm — A former beef farm, Northwood sent its cows to a farm sanctuary and now produces beans and …

Topics:

farming methods

©Petaluma

Products & Launches

Petaluma Dog Food Partners with Erewhon Market for Brick-and-Mortar Debut

January 25, 2023

Sustainable dog nutrition brand Petaluma announces it is making its brick-and-mortar debut at Los Angeles grocery chain Erewhon Market. Petaluma’s premium dog food and chews are rolling out at all eight of Erewhon Market’s locations across Los Angeles County. The specialty chain will feature the brand’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato food in a five-pound bag, along with its dehydrated chews. According to Petaluma, since its direct-to-consumer debut in 2021, the company has grown a loyal subscriber base, 15% of which is made up of customers located in Southern California. Crafted by veterinary scientists, Petaluma’s Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato formula is gently baked to provide the nutrients dogs need with a much smaller environmental “pawprint”. Eco-friendly mission Petaluma states its dog food, …

peta campaign for vegan wool featuring a woman dressed with plants

Materials

PETA Offers $1M for Market-Ready Vegan Wool Alternative

November 18, 2022

The animal rights group PETA launched a $1 million Vegan Wool Challenge Award this week to find the first individual, group, or company that creates a vegan wool material “visually, texturally, and functionally akin to or better than sheep’s wool.” The winning animal-free wool must be a biomaterial that is biodegradable or recyclable and has traditional wool’s advantages like maintaining body temperature, neutralising doors, and repelling moisture. Among other entry rules for the wool challenge, PETA requires the participants to demonstrate the innovative material’s commercial viability. Alternatives to animal-derived materials This vegan wool prize comes at a time when innovations in the animal-free leather category are thriving, with leather made from upcycled tamarind pods and cactus leather used to make shoes, gloves, and watches. Vegan silk is …

Topics:

Wool

Textiles

Overstock Bans Cashmere Products, Receiving PETA Compassionate Business Award

November 9, 2022

Overstock.com, a US based retailer of furniture and home furnishings retailer, has been awarded PETA‘s Compassionate Business Award following its recent ban on products made from cashmere. The company previously banned products with exotic skins and other furs, including badger hair, mohair, angora, and alpaca. Working together with PETA, Overstock has already identified and removed from its website several products made of cashmere and says it is committed to putting measures in place to ensure such products are no longer offered on its e-commerce site by the end of this year. “Thanks to Overstock’s kind decision, fewer cashmere goats will be harmed for throw blankets,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is recognizing this conscientious company for being a leader in animal-free commerce …

Topics:

cashmere

Online

Image: Phil America on Instagram

Non-Food

Phil America Partners With PETA for Animal-Friendly Streetwear Line

November 4, 2022

Vegan artist, designer, and influencer Phil America has joined forces with PETA for a new streetwear capsule collection called “People Are Animals”. The collection features black shirts with designs inspired by PETA’s logo, along with green hoodies emblazoned with colourful animal-inspired designs. It will be modelled by actor and singer Stéphanie Gérard and other influencers. The launch is accompanied by a video comparing human and animal eyes, showing the similarities between them. A new custom Instagram filter has also been introduced, making the colours and designs of the collection change to emphasise the importance of seeing things from different perspectives. PETA and vegan fashion PETA has a track record of promoting and supporting cruelty-free fashion, helping to get fur banned from this year’s Copenhagen Fashion …

Lead image by vegconomist

Food & Beverage

PETA UK Vegan Food Awards Winners 2022 Revealed

October 21, 2022

PETA UK has announced the Vegan Food Awards 2022 winners. Small brands, food tech innovators, big players, and famous restaurant chains are consistently launching new and innovative products to meet the demand for animal-planet-friendly foods and products. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the PETA UK Vegan Food Awards, the animal rights advocacy group selected the best brands in over 24 categories. The 2022 winners are as follows. BEST VEGAN MILK Co-op’s GRO The Oaty One The Oaty One is available in selected Co-op and Nisa stores. The brand claims to be cheaper than other leading oat milk. BEST VEGAN MEAT Squeaky Bean, Applewood Smoked Ham Style Slices Alt meat brand Squeaky Bean recently received the Plant-Based Manufacturing Company of the Year award. The brand offers a 100% plant-based vegan range, including …

Princess Maja von Hohenzollern at the Who is Who international awards, image supplied

Non-Food

Princess Maja von Hohenzollern Awarded For Innovations in Vegan Home Décor

September 29, 2022

Princess Maja von Hohenzollern, an international home décor designer, has received the prestigious “Who is Who International Award-Women Leader” in the categories “Design” and “Animal Welfare” in Greece. Princess Maja is a member of the Royal Family Hohenzollern, which represented the former emperor in Germany. For the past 18 years, she has designed innovative collections under her licensed brand, which are on the market in over 60 countries. In her portfolio are furniture items, as well as bathroom fittings & accessories, home decoration, pet-, children- and lifestyle products. Previously, Princess Maja von Hohenzollern was honoured as the best designer in Asia with the “Asia Design Award Gold” in Shanghai/China and as “Designer of the year 2020” with the Powerhouse Global Award in the Uk. Who …

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Princess Maja von Hohenzollern

Non-Food

Copenhagen Fashion Week Bans Fur After PETA Protest

August 16, 2022

Following last year’s fur protest organised by PETA UK, Copenhagen Fashion Week announces it has banned the use of fur and fur garments in this year’s show as a sign of commitment to animal welfare. The fur ban has become a global movement after many prominent fashion houses, including Gucci, Versace, and Prada, as well as global brands such as Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger, make the switch to 100% fur-free fashion. As more and more designers and fashion brands start to prioritise animal welfare over profit, fur is gradually disappearing from the most important catwalks of the world. Fur-free Fashion Weeks All over the world, fashion weeks are one of the highlights for designers, buyers, and the public. The decision to ban fur on …

Topics:

Fur

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers