A student-led campaign is pushing for the University of Sheffield to adopt fully plant-based catering, starting with the Students’ Union.
The Plant-Based Universities campaign started in 2021 and has been calling on universities to transition to 100% sustainable plant-based catering to tackle the climate crisis.
Aaron Devaney, the Secretary of the Plant-Based Universities Sheffield, argues that the change would be a simple but effective step towards tackling climate change. He said:
“Plant-based catering is a comparatively easy way to fight the climate crisis, because while transitioning away from fossil fuels is complex and expensive, switching menus is something universities can do much more quickly.”
The group is proposing a gradual transition, aiming for fully plant-based catering within five years, with the hopes of getting their petition approved by the Students’ Union soon.
Credit: Plant-Based Universities
“We want to transition the Students’ Union to 100% plant-based catering over five years, starting at around 60% and increasing each year so the change is realistic and manageable.”
Mr Devaney says universities should align their actions with research, and commit to the initiative proposed.
“Universities publish research on the benefits of plant-based diets, but they don’t actually follow that initiative themselves, when you look at their catering, it’s not being reflected in what they offer students.”
Rather than focusing on individual behaviour, the campaign emphasises institutional responsibility.
He said: “This isn’t about telling individuals they need to change their diet, it’s about the university taking responsibility for what it provides, because individual choices are small scale, whereas when a university acts, thousands of students are part of that change automatically.
“The university acts as a beacon of good practice, so what it does can ripple out into the wider Sheffield community and influence how people think about sustainability.”
The campaign follows similar initiatives at other universities across the UK and Europe with there being Plant-Based commitments in 15 universities over the UK and more across Europe.
In Sheffield, Mr Devaney says student response has been mixed but largely positive.
For those involved, the campaign is clear about its message for long-term institutional change with a greener future being in mind.
“It seemed like a great opportunity to make a lasting change and be part of something that could have a real impact both within the university and beyond it.”
To find out more, check out their website here.