at the moment
environmental vibe check? Try veganism
Veganism, in the last decade, has amassed what could only be described as a cult following. As of 2019, which the Economist described as ‘The Year of the Vegan’, over 1% of the world population identifies as vegan. This is a 550% leap.
The biggest contributors to this number? Millennials.
Veganism has picked up in the last decade for primarily three reasons – it is trendy, incredibly healthy and allows one to live ethically and sustainably in an age where the planet is rapidly turning into an inferno. However, in the age of the internet, veganism gets a bad reputation. Throw into the mix memes and jokes about eating an entire head of lettuce for every meal or ‘living like a cow’ and one is dawned with the realisation that misinformation is rampant.
Veganism, in its bare (vegan) bones, is a lifestyle devoid of consumption of any kind of animal products. This could range from honey to milk to even shiny leather shoes.
Plant based eaters often catalog themselves as vegan, which is where contenders that are in it for health/trend reasons get eliminated. While it is scientifically true that plant-based eating with little to no consumption of animal products has insurmountable benefits like reduced inflammation and a significantly lesser chance of heart disease, it is not enough to qualify one as a vegan. It may be a mere stepping stone to veganism but has an undeniable environmental impact.
Most local Indian foods are inherently vegan and are easy to veganise with plant based alternatives.
Sriranjini Raman, student and climate activist argues that, “Plant based eating, in the world that we live in should be encouraged. It is not only cheap and healthy because it boils down to the very basics, but also is beneficial for the environment. It reduces carbon dioxide and methane emissions that the dairy and meat industry are notorious for. Those are the greenhouse gases that essentially heat the atmosphere. Plant based eating saves thousands of litres of water as well and protects endangered species. It is an overall boon to the environment as it reduces our ecological footprint.”
The third and most important reason is the sustainability factor. Veganism is synonymous with sustainability, in the sense that it is surprisingly easy to incorporate in one’s lifestyle. While most people consider this a daunting step to take, Anshula J, a student that has been vegan for over four years says, “What's even better is that it's becoming increasingly easy to be more sustainable. For example, we can replace dairy milk with soy or any other plant-based milk of our choice. In fact, there's no need to go out to buy milk anymore. Making milk out of almonds, cashews is an easy and simple process and people are actually doing it.
A vast variety of vegan Dairy alternatives - both store bought and homemade
Similarly, mock meats which are a vegan alternative to the regular meats, with no compromise on the texture and taste, have taken the market by storm. Clothing and apparel too, when developed sustainably and ethically can be included as staples in a vegan’s lifestyle.
Regardless of the routine jibes at vegans, the community still is thriving on social media platforms and is slowly taking to mainstream media. They have created a safe space on social media platforms where recipes, articles and updates are shared regularly. An interesting initiative called ‘Veganuary’ is celebrated world over during January of every New Year. It allows people to dip their toes into the seemingly icy waters of veganism, with help from practising vegans that relentlessy and tirelessly share resources online.
Documentaries like Cowspiracy, What The Health and The Game Changers are gaining popularity and sparking curiosity among people intrigued by the lifestyle.
Several cafes/restaurants have started catering to vegans as well.
The media and vegan community world over is encouraging people to take to plant based eating more frequently, if not fully making the switch. While the benefits are innumerable, the lifestyle has the best interests of the planet kept in mind, considering it needs us now more than ever.
FAQs for every vegan