{"id":69390,"date":"2026-03-20T14:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=69390"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:46:52","slug":"campaigners-push-for-plant-based-overhaul-at-sheffield-students-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/20\/campaigners-push-for-plant-based-overhaul-at-sheffield-students-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Campaigners push for plant-based overhaul at Sheffield Students’ Union"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A student-led campaign is pushing for the University of Sheffield to adopt fully plant-based catering, starting with the Students\u2019 Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlant-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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Plant-Based Universities <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to transition the Students\u2019 Union to 100% plant-based catering over five years, starting at around 60% and increasing each year so the change is realistic and manageable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Devaney says universities should align their actions with research, and commit to the initiative proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUniversities publish research on the benefits of plant-based diets, but they don\u2019t actually follow that initiative themselves, when you look at their catering, it\u2019s not being reflected in what they offer students.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing on individual behaviour, the campaign emphasises institutional responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cThis isn\u2019t about telling individuals they need to change their diet, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Plant-Based Universities<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Sheffield, Mr Devaney says student response has been mixed but largely positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those involved, the campaign is clear about its message for long-term institutional change with a greener future being in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more, check out their website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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