Action
Make plant-based options the default choice in the cafeteria
The average office lunch isn't very sustainable in most cases. By choosing more plant-based options, you can make a big difference as an organization.
Description
What we find interesting:
Many company cafeterias serve meat or cheese by default, while plant-based meals are both more sustainable and healthier.
Especially when the plant-based option becomes the standard choice (the so-called "default"), people's behavior changes significantly.
Field research in a university cafeteria shows that the number of vegetarian meals more than doubled once it became standard, and the number of meat-based meals dropped to less than a third of the original number.
3 more reasons to make plant-based the default:
Especially when the plant-based option becomes the standard choice (the so-called "default"), people's behavior changes significantly.
Field research in a university cafeteria shows that the number of vegetarian meals more than doubled once it became standard, and the number of meat-based meals dropped to less than a third of the original number.
3 more reasons to make plant-based the default:
- Major impact on climate and biodiversity: Fewer animal products = lower emissions, land use, and water consumption.
- Everyone remains free to choose: The standard changes, but meat remains available for those who want it.
- Healthier for employees: More vegetables, legumes, and grains contribute to a healthier work lunch.
Steps
- 1Ask your employer, HR department or caterer to offer more plant-based options
- 2Inquire if there are plans to introduce a 'plant-based default'
- 3Refer to successful examples, such as universities and government agencies that are already doing this. Look here for inspiration.
- 4Suggest making one day a week plant-based as a trial
- 5Involve colleagues: the more people behind it, the greater the chance of change
