New UK houseplant grower makes plants even greener

Geb & Green is the first UK houseplant company to grow at scale without using peat

Think your houseplants are already green? Think again. Brand new houseplant grower Geb & Green is on a mission to make houseplants up and down the country even greener, thanks to their plants being grown without using peat right here in the UK.
 

Geb & Green is the only houseplant company in the UK growing at scale that doesn’t use peat as a growing medium, making sustainable, environmentally friendly plants easily accessible to plant parents who want to make the conscious choice when it comes to their plant babies.
 

For many of us, choosing to fill our homes with beautiful, lush plants is a way to bring nature inside, improve the quality of the air we breathe and reap the plentiful health, wellness and aesthetic benefits that houseplants provide.
 

But behind our UK houseplants is an industry that is damaging our environment more than most of us realise. The majority of houseplants sold in the UK are imported as mature plants and grown using peat[i], a natural carbon store that is extracted for use as a growing medium.

Every year in the UK, peatlands release more carbon than all of the HGVs on our roads combined and globally, damaged peatlands are emitting 6% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Suddenly, those beautiful green plants don’t look quite so green.
 

Will Clayton, one of the founders of Geb & Green, said: “Many people simply don’t know about the negative effect that extracting peat has on our environment and that houseplants are contributing to climate change by using peat as a growing medium.
 

As a nation we are all becoming so much more conscious of our environmental impact, switching to recyclable materials instead of plastic, driving electric vehicles and being mindful of our carbon footprint, but what lots of people aren’t aware of is that the very item they expect to be green, in fact is quite the opposite.
 

We set up Geb & Green as we weren’t aware of any UK houseplant grower cultivating plants at scale without using peat as a growing medium and saw an opportunity to make it easier for people to buy UK grown plants and stop damaging our peatlands, which are unfortunately at huge risk.
 

My family has been in the horticulture industry for 25 years, most recently growing and selling ornamental flowers, but I knew I wanted to put our glasshouses to better use, to grow plants in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way that would make a contribution towards restoring our valuable peatlands. By making one simple change and only buying houseplants grown in the UK without using peat as a growing medium, UK consumers can contribute positively to reducing our carbon emissions.”
 

Kate Brown, Co-founder and Marketing Director at Geb & Green, said: “As a mum of two young children, the legacy we are leaving for the generations to come is hugely important to me and when I started exploring peat extraction and the use of peat to grow plants, I knew I wanted to be part of Geb & Green’s mission to transform the houseplant industry.
 

All of Geb & Green’s plants are grown right here in the UK, in a peat free growing medium using environmentally friendly growing techniques to make our plants some of the greenest in the UK. We know that people are passionate about their plants, and with Geb & Green consumers now have a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative when choosing plants for their homes.”
 

Geb & Green’s houseplants are available to buy online at www.gebandgreen.co.uk.

·       Paula’s Choice launches free recycling programme in the UK to recycle its skincare packaging

·       The move follows the success of a similar programme in the US

·       The programme is available to all consumers to sign up to and raise funds for good causes in the process

Global personal care brand, Paula’s Choice Skincare, and international recycling leader TerraCycle have today announced the launch of the Paula’s Choice Skincare Free Recycling Programme in the UK.

The partnership enables consumers to recycle their empty Paula’s Choice Skincare packaging by visiting https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/brigades/paulas-choice-uk and becoming a programme member. Anyone can collect their empty Paula’s Choice Skincare packaging, including the brand’s skincare bottles, tubes, caps, pumps, droppers and applicators, at home, download a free shipping label, package the empty items in a box, and send it free-of-charge to TerraCycle to be recycled into new products.

By saving these items from landfills and sending them to TerraCycle to be recycled, consumers will also be able to earn points that can be converted to donations for the non-profit, school or charitable organisation of their choice.

The news of this scheme follows the successful launch of a similar programme in the US.

Frans Jansen, Director of Operations, Paula’s Choice Europe: “Caring for people and our planet is just as important to us as caring for our skin. As part of our sustainability commitment, we are excited to partner with Terracycle to help reduce plastic waste. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to recycle skincare packaging in kerbside recycling systems. We are proud to offer our customers in the UK the possibility to recycle their empties through our collaboration with Terracycle.”

Julien Tremblin, General Manager, TerraCycle Europe said: “We are very excited to be working with Paula’s Choice in the UK. The programme has been a great success in the US and we are thrilled to be able to offer consumers in the UK a sustainable solution for their Paula’s Choice Skincare packaging.”

https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/

In first place is Ford, who currently has a reported 30 car models with vegan-friendly details and more eco-friendly swaps upon request. The Ford Fiesta has without a doubt continued to be one of the best-selling cars in the UK for years, with the popularity also extending across Europe. The latest models all come with non-leather seats as standard, including the Style, Zetec, B&O Play Zetec and Ford EcoBoost.

All Fiestas, with the exception of the Style (Base Model), are fitted with leather steering wheels, however, these can be replaced with a non-leather alternative upon request, whilst the Ford Mustang Mach-E comes standard with all-vegan interiors, including a vegan steering wheel. 

The 2023 release of the electric F-150 Lightning truck also features seat cushions made from soy foam and vegan leather covers, with seals and gaskets coming from recycled tyres. The upcoming 2024 Electric Bronco also follows the same trend, featuring vegan leather as standard.

Honda places second, including the CR-V and HR-V which come with vegan interiors as standard, alongside offering vegan-friendly interior options on specific Civic and Jazz models. 

Also making the Top 5 is Mercedes-Benz, with a total of 19 models with vegan-friendly attributes. The B-Class, A, CLA Coupé, CLA Shooting Brake and V-Class all come with a vegan interior as standard, whilst the Smart Fortwo is leather-free. 

When it comes to the electric range, the 2023 EQS and EQE both come with a vegan interior as standard, and the VISION EQXX (2024 release) will be constructed with an interior made from mushroom and cactus ‘leather’, bamboo and bio-based vegan silk to create a pioneering luxury interior that is also environmentally friendly. 

This study is based on car models that either come with vegan-friendly interiors used as standard, or vegan-friendly materials available upon request. It is important to note that no car is 100% vegan, yet. According to Dominika Piasecka, a spokesperson for the Vegan Society: 

“The bottom line is that there’s no such thing as a 100% vegan car, unfortunately. The key with veganism is trying to do your best. It’s not possible to be 100% vegan in this imperfect world but we can avoid animal suffering as much as possible. Avoiding leather is a practical thing we can do while buying a car, while we can’t of course avoid tyres or steel.”

If you would like to see more on this story, please visit – https://www.dicklovett.co.uk/news/vegan-friendly-cars

Ohme is now the official EV charging partner for the Energy House 2.0 house of the future project unveiled last week at the University of Salford.

The only one of its kind in the world, the Energy House 2.0 is a unique and innovative £16-million research laboratory, supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The laboratory, the largest facility of its type, has an environmental chamber able to contain two detached houses in recreated and controlled weather conditions.

Fitted to the houses inside the chambers, Ohme EV smart chargers will weather temperatures ranging between -20°C to +40°C as well as simulated rain, snow and solar radiation. The conditions will help Ohme and other partners of the project such as Bellway, Saint-Gobain and Barratt to work together creating a blueprint for future houses to provide the low carbon homes of the future.

“At Ohme we’re very excited to be part of the Energy House 2.0 project and this view into the future of our housing,” said Ohme CEO, David Watson. “The built environment accounts for 25 per cent of the UK’s carbon footprint and together with Ohme’s chargers, this project will help to accelerate progress towards low carbon and net zero housing design.”

As well as helping to reduce the carbon footprint of new homes with the Energy House 2.0, Ohme chargers also offer drivers the option to charge their car when renewable energy generation on the National Grid is at its highest, further lowering a driver’s CO2 impact.

All of Ohme’s chargers can take advantage of Ohme’s smart charging technology to connect with the national grid in real time and automatically adjust their charging for drivers to take advantage of all the times of low price charging with smart off-peak tariffs.

Ohme is the official charger provider for both the Volkswagen Group in the UK and Motability Operations, the largest fleet operator in the UK, and has been named as the Best Electric Charging Point Provider by Business Motoring. Furthermore, Ohme has just passed the rigorous industry standard certifications for ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 for monitoring quality processes and information security.

* Octopus Intelligent at 10p/kW, SVT at 34p/kW

• Repton Gardens will embrace nature by bringing the outdoors in
• Spacious apartments designed to appeal to families and sharers
• Array of amenities includes gym, club room, home-working offices, terraces and extensive gardens

Quintain Living – the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of more than 3,250 apartments in Wembley Park – has shared a first look at its next development, Repton Gardens. The company’s tenth rental building in Wembley Park, Repton Gardens is also its most sustainable, with 396 apartments offering nature-inspired accommodation.

Sustainability features include rainwater harvesting, low-flow showers, toilets and taps and furnishings that prioritise recycling, reusability and with minimal delivery miles. Removal of waste has been designed to encourage recycling with an ‘Envac’ waste and recycling system on every floor. Envac is an innovative automated waste collection and sorting system that delivers cleaner, healthier urban environments. It supports increased recycling levels and reduces the number of vehicles needed to remove refuse and recycling thanks to an extensive underground pipe network.

Ranging in size from studios to four-bedroom homes that are ideal for families and sharers, the apartments at Repton Gardens come in two colour palettes: ‘nature’ and ‘garden’. Browns, greens and greys abound, with textures used to add to the natural feel. Biophilic design brings nature indoors, with extensive planting used to enhance air quality and wellbeing.

Out in the podium garden, banked earthworks allow for the inclusion of larger trees, for the benefit of insects and birds, with lawned areas, two playparks and hireable BBQ/dining areas making the space particularly versatile.

The podium garden, with its extensive greenery, is the epicentre of Repton Gardens, with the development’s three buildings – Birch House, Cherry House and Aspen House – all with private balconies overlooking it. The extensive shared social spaces also front onto the gardens, with terraces incorporating a range of seating connecting the indoor and outdoor areas.

Inside, the club room features a pool table, a bar with wine and beer on tap, soft seating and a TV area. There is a 1,150 square foot gym overlooking the podium, while Repton Gardens also provides a work-from-home suite with ten hireable offices and a meeting room.

In total, Repton Gardens provides 40 different layout choices, including some homes with dedicated homeworking areas and others with half-bedrooms, popular in other Quintain Living buildings for activities like morning yoga. This creates a wealth of possibilities for modern renters, enabling them to find the ideal layout to suit their particular needs.

“There is no ‘one size fits all’ at Repton Gardens. The needs of families and sharers are very diverse, so our apartments are as well. These nature-inspired homes prioritise sustainable living, with plants brought into the building to create a flow of greenery from outside to in.”

Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living

The first residents will be able to move into Repton Gardens from mid-December 2022.

12th January, 2023

STELLA skincare reveals the beginning of its collaboration with five global pioneers, known for their innovation and advocacy in the worlds of environmental and social activism and philanthropy.

The responsible beauty brand’s new initiative unites with eco-conscious activists and campaigners, offering a platform for them to amplify their voices and build a like-minded community.

Earlier this year, Stella McCartney, herself an environmental advocate, created a tightly-edited, ultra-effective, new conscious skincare line. Now she is thrilled to collaborate with these incredible activists, to highlight the vital work they are doing and the causes they support and fight for.

McCartney says, “Our brand is committed to driving change, and amplifying the important messages of these five incredible change-makers. I am thrilled to be collaborating with them, building together this bold community who believe in doing things differently”.

The pioneers include:

• Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

Dr Jane Goodall was the original trailblazer – inspiring people to preserve the natural world long before many others.

In 1960, at just 26 years old, she left England and travelled to Tanzania to study the fascinating world of wild chimpanzees. Her ground-breaking finding that chimpanzees make and use tools, forever changed our understanding of our relationship to the rest of the animal kingdom.   Today Jane continues like Stella, to be a leading activist in driving awareness of our environmental crisis.

Jane’s work builds on scientific innovations, growing a lifetime of advocacy including trailblazing efforts through the Jane Goodall Institute which has Institutes in 25 countries (including the UK) advancing community-led conservation, animal welfare, conservation science, and youth empowerment. www.janegoodall.org.uk

Jane is growing the next generation of compassionate changemakers through her free ‘Roots & Shoots’ environmental and humanitarian youth programme, now active in over 60 countries (including the UK) involving more than one million young people. www.rootsnshoots.org.uk

Stella is incredibly honoured to join forces with a true icon and an original pioneer, as part of Stella Voices.

• Xiye Bastida

At only 20-years Xiye Bastida has already received a UN Spirit Award, taken on leadership roles in the organisation of key climate strikes including ‘Fridays for Future’, and has also co-founded the Re-Earth Initiative, an international youth-led organisation that focuses on highlighting the intersectionality of the climate crisis. Bastida was born in Mexico and raised as part of the Otomi-Toltec indigenous community. 

Stella is thrilled to be sharing her platform with such a young and purpose-driven talent, having been inspired by the building momentum, spearheaded by the next generation in their commitment to protecting planet earth whilst highlighting inequalities.

• Poppy Okotcha

Ecological home grower, Poppy Okotcha is on a quest to help others reconnect more with the earth – an ethos shared deeply by Stella.

The fifth pioneer in our Stella Voices series, her work is rooted in the understanding that we are part of and not separate to Earth’s ecosystems. Her initiatives and passions focus as much on the well-being and improvement of the soil, as they do on our bodies and how we look after ourselves. Through her work, Poppy shares Stella’s vision of circularity and showcases the positives that mother earth is capable of.

• Tammy Gan

Tammy Gan, our fourth pioneer, describes herself as an ‘activist-in-progress, digital creator and communicator’.

Like Stella, Tammy believes that access to information about climate justice activism and theory should be easy to digest and accessible to all, and their collaboration through Stella Voices is an organic evolution of this shared agenda. Tammy spends her time creating digital and physical community and learning spaces to build towards a more just, regenerative and loving world within our current one.

• Christabel Reed

Christabel Reed’svision to empower people to take action and enable social transformation reflects Stella’s own approach to social sustainability. Both Christabel and Stella strive to create a positive impact for all, sharing the belief the health of people and the health of the planet are two sides of the same coin.

Our third Stella Voices pioneer, Christabel has founded two successful platforms – EcoResolution, which focuses on climate action, and Advaya – a transformative education platform that offers courses, events and storytelling across ecology, wellbeing, culture and spirituality. 

She is now developing a third not-for-profit organisation called Earthed, a nature skills platform for a global community learning from and for nature.

STELLA’s ambition is to foster a community of like-minded change-makers, to amplify their voices and inspire conversation and action around climate activism, environmental issues and animal rights.

This January, Mr Motivator has teamed up with British Glass on a mission to reduce the consumption of microplastics by encouraging the nation to choose glass.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles under 5mm, that occur from the breakdown of larger plastics in the environment.

Levels of microplastics are increasing globally in natural sources due to a myriad of factors, including large scale manufacturing pollution and the mishandling of waste, and most microplastic pollution comes from textiles, tyres and city dust, which account for over 80% of all microplastic in the environment. 

Levels of microplastics, and the chemicals they leach have been identified in the human body in the past year. In parallel, the number of microplastics recorded in water and food sources are also increasingly being recorded.

To raise awareness and motivate the nation to change its behaviour, British Glass has partnered with Mr Motivator to highlight ways to reduce household exposure to microplastics. Tips include:

• Rethink how you drink – although they are called “paper cups”, they have liners which release microplastic particles when exposed to hot liquids*
• Air dry clothes – a single tumble dryer could be responsible for releasing 120 MILLION microplastic fibres into the air each year*
• Keep it clean – almost 40% of dust particles in your home are microplastics, so regular dusting and vacuuming reduces household levels*
• Stop putting plastic containers in the microwave – plastic containers leach chemicals when they’re heated*
• Swap out plastic for glass – glass packaging cannot break down into the food and drink it contains*

Choosing products packaged in glass can offer a tangible household solution to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals caused by microplastics. 

Professor Jeannette Rotchell, Environmental Toxicologist, University of Hull, said: “Whilst research is still ongoing regarding the specific heath impacts of microplastics, we do know that such contaminants and the chemicals they leach have been detected in our bodies, probably due to exposure via our food and drink. The compound of glass as a material means it is impossible for such leaching to take place between product and packaging, so those looking to reduce their exposure to microplastic can take action today by choosing glass where possible.”

Mr Motivator, added: “It’s 2023 and it’s time to look after yourself and look after the world. This is a workout with a difference and I’m excited to be part of a campaign to reduce microplastic consumption in households across the UK.”

Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, added: “At a consumer level, preferencing glass offers a solution for people looking to reduce their day-to-day exposure to microplastics and their future impact. We await the results of scientific studies on the health implications of microplastics, but for now, we can raise awareness of leaching and promote the benefits of glass to prevent microplastic intake levels rising.”

Fact checks 

*Air drying clothes – https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/12/tumble-dryers-leading-source-microfibre-air-pollution-hong-kong-plastics

*Hoover – https://www.perchenergy.com/blog/lifestyle/reduce-microplastic-pollution-consumption 

*Bottled water – https://cleanwater.org/2020/07/29/bottled-water-human-health-consequences-drinking-plastic#:~:text=Recent%20studies%20show%20bottled%20water,all%20showed%20traces%20of%20microplastics. 

*https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135419308565 

*Microwave – https://www.perchenergy.com/blog/lifestyle/reduce-microplastic-pollution-consumption 

*https://www.inverse.com/science/microplastics-in-our-food 

*Takeaway mugs – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389420321087   

*https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36089043/ 

Taylor Pass Honey Co, work sustainably with nature to capture the raw essence and flavours of the remote wilderness of New Zealand. Our beekeepers take special care of the environment and ensure that their bees are some of the healthiest in the world. Each jar of our Mānuka honey produced is tested and will receive a Certified Unique Manuka Factor (UMF™). Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association, (UMFHA) works with beekeepers, processors and exporters to measure and validate New Zealand’s precious Mānuka honey, creating a system that Mānuka honey lovers around the world can trust.

For thousands of years, honey has been used to treat wounds with evidence of its use by ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Mānuka Honey has been extensively researched and is known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial properties. It can help reduce inflammation and encourage tissue regeneration, relieving the itching and discomfort of eczema and other skin complaints such as acne. The honey works to hydrate the skin to keep it soft and moist so that it doesn’t dry out.

Mānuka Honey is one of the most unique products found anywhere in the world. If you have allergic reactions to pollen or other bee products, don’t use honey on your skin without first doing a test on a small area of skin.

Mānuka UMF 5+ Honey and Cinnamon Hydrating face mask

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Mānuka UMF 5+ Honey
A pinch of cinnamon

Method:

Steam your skin and pat it dry. Apply a thin layer of honey blended with a pinch of cinnamon.
Leave on for 20 minutes and gently wipe off. Rinse with cold water to close pores.

Mānuka UMF 5+ Honey and Coconut Hair mask

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Mānuka UMF 5+ Honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil

Method:

Mix honey with coconut oil. Warm the mixture gently in your hands before applying to dry hair, concentrating on the scalp. Wrap hair in a towel and leave for approximately 15-20 minutes before rinsing out and washing with your normal shampoo.

Lavender Honey Scrub

Ingredients:

75g cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Taylor Pass Mānuka UMF5+ honey
5 tablespoons coconut oil
10 drops of lavender oil

Method:

Simply mix all ingredients together. Apply to clean wet skin, then rinse.

Taste a World of Good

A spoonful of sweet Mānuka honey, has vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that can give you a natural winter boost. Taylor Pass Honey Co Mānuka UMF 5+ Honey recently gained 3 stars at the Great Taste Awards 2022, the only New Zealand honey to win this accolade. Mānuka honey is delicious and can be eaten straight from the jar, drizzled on toast or used in a drink to soothe a tickly sore throat. Honey should not be consumed by infants under one year.

Taylor Pass Honey is available in over 300 independent health retailers throughout the UK in 250g and 500g jars and online with a suggested retail price range of between £9.99 to £29.99. Taylor Pass Honey products are Non-GMO verified, Unique Mānuka Factor ™ rated, Oritain verified, FernMark licensed, Apiculture New Zealand affiliated, and B Corp certified.

• Global study reveals that UK students’ lives are being more heavily impacted than those in the USA, Australia, Ireland, Spain and Germany
• UK students are amongst the least satisfied with the level of Government support
• Two thirds in the UK say they would have reconsidered going to university had the impacts been felt whilst applying to university
• However, 60% of UK students say the cost of living crisis will encourage them to be more environmentally conscious

United Kingdom, 16, December 2022: Whilst the cost of living continues to rise, global research released today reveals that those studying in Britain are amongst the worst impacted.

Over half (53%) of students’ lives in the UK are being impacted by the crisis, according to the research – putting students here on par with Australia (53%), but in a worse position than those in Ireland (49%), Germany (43%), the USA (42%) and Spain (41%).

The study also showed the extent to which those in the UK feel let down by the Government. Nearly three quarters (72%) of UK-based students say the government should be doing more to support them through the cost of living crisis. Whilst this figure was worse in Ireland (75%), those in Spain (68%), Germany (59%), Australia (49%) and the USA (35%) all showed less dissatisfaction with their respective Government’s support.

The research was commissioned by leading global student housing brand Yugo. The study analysed the views of 6,000 students around the world, including over 1,000 in the UK, where 62% said they would have reconsidered going to university if the biggest impacts of the crisis had been felt whilst they were applying – this figure was higher than in any other market researched.

Three quarters (76%) in the UK are also worried about the impact it will have on their future career prospects, compared with 80% in Spain, 79% in Ireland, 71% in Australia, 65% in Germany and 64% in the USA.

Here in the UK 80% admitted to actively cutting their spending as a result – broadly in line with how other students around the world are responding.

Despite the challenges students are facing, the study also revealed a positive. Almost two-thirds (60%) of UK students stated that the cost of living crisis will encourage them to be more environmentally conscious.

This was, however, amongst the lowest figure globally, with 85% of students in the USA and Australia agreeing that it would push them into more environmentally conscious behaviours, 64% in Ireland, 61% in Spain and 46% in Germany.

A third (33%) of UK students are opting for cheaper, and more sustainable, methods of transport such as the bus, cycling and walking.

However, the research also showed that students in the UK are compromising on several key areas of their lives, including their studies. Over half admitted to buying fewer new clothes (56%) and spending less on eating out (59%), with some students resorting to reducing spending on essential educational items such as books (26%) as ways to cut costs.

Richard Brenner, Operations Director, Europe at Yugo, said: “The rising cost of living is being felt across the country and students are certainly not immune. Supporting our students’ holistic needs is at the top of our priority list and having identified very clear stresses and strains for students, we must act.

We have a number of processes in place to best support our students who are struggling financially, including offering flexible payment plans to suit their needs. Our students also make up 26% of our workforce, providing them with meaningful and sustainable employment.

It’s our duty to ensure students have a happy, healthy, and successful time at university, and no one should have to compromise on their educational experience.”

Many UK students are anticipating long-lasting effects of the cost of living crisis, with 59% stating that they expect it to only get worse over the next 12-18 months.

UK students also worry that the cost of living crisis will increase the wealth divide (46%), reduce opportunities across the country (42%) and polarise society and increase political division (35%).

• Green energy experts at Uswitch.com reveal the top trending vegan recipes and cuisines according to TikTok 
• Uswitch research reveals that a vegan diet could cut the UK’s total emissions by 31 million tons of CO2 (7%), so the TikTok analysis discovered the top meals inspiring a meat-free diet
• Asian cuisines come out on top; vegan Thai recipes are the most viewed, followed by Korean and then Indian
• Looking at specific dishes, vegan pasta recipes are the most watched on the platform, followed by vegan sushi and vegan pizza 
• The research discovered that #VeganRecipes has over 3.4 billion views on TikTok.

A vegan diet could cut the UK’s total emissions by 31 million tons of CO2 (7%), according to new research from the green energy experts at Uswitch.com, the comparison site. As veganism could have a huge impact on the environment, the researchers were curious to discover the plant-based recipes people wanted to try out the most. 

With over 3.4 billion views for #Veganrecipes on TikTok, the video-sharing app is bursting with sensational meat-free recipes for people to try at home. 

By analysing TikTok hashtag data for hundreds of vegan recipes and cuisines the study found that it is vegan Thai dishes whetting our appetites the most, as #veganthai has 36 million views on the video platform. Thanks to most Thai dishes being made up of vegetables, the majority of the most iconic dishes can be made without any animal products. Tofu is also a great alternative to include in some of the most iconic Thai dishes, such as Thai Green Curry, Pad Thai, or Drunken Noodles. 

Asia dominates the top 10 trending vegan cuisines on TikTok, as plant-based Korean meals are the second-most watched recipes (4.9 million views), followed by vegan Indian recipes in third (3.9 million views). Plant-based Chinese TikTok tutorials are sixth on the top trending list, Malaysian dishes are eighth and Vietnamese meals are ninth. That’s six Asian cuisines in the top 10 trending cuisines inspiring our diet changes in 2022 and beyond. 

Also in the top 10 is Italian food (in fourth position), with 3.1 million views of the hashtag ‘#veganItalian’. Italian food is another great cuisine that can be delicious and plant-based; from a simple Penne Al’Arrabiata to a vegan Pizza Margherita, the possibilities are endless.

Vegan Mexican meals are the fifth most popular on TikTok, Caribbean food is seventh, and Turkish cuisine rounds off the top 10 trending list. 

Table: TikTok’s top trending vegan cuisines

Rank	Cuisine	Hashtag	TikTok Hashtag Views
1	Thai	#veganthai	36,000,000
2	Korean	#vegankorean	4,900,000
3	Indian	#veganindian	3,900,000
4	Italian	#veganitalian	3,100,000
5	Mexican	#veganmexican	2,300,000
6	Chinese	#veganchinese	1,400,000
7	Caribbean	#vegancarribbean	411,000
8	Malaysian	#veganmalaysian	393,900
9	Vietnamese	#veganvietnamese	367,100
10	Turkish	#veganturkish	298,500
11	Portuguese	#veganportuguese	255,000
12	Ethiopian	#veganethiopian	83,100
13	Japanese	#veganjapanese	53,000
14	French	#veganfrench	15,100
15	German	#vegangerman	7,233

Source: Uswitch.com

The researchers also looked at specific dishes that foodies are engaging with on TikTok the most and found vegan pasta recipes taking the top spot with 48.2 million hashtag views. Amongst the most popular recipe on the video platform is the viral vegan Baked Feta Pasta dish and the Bella Hadid-endorsed Vodka Rigatoni, both easy dishes perfect for winter evenings. 

Second on the list is sushi with 47.1 million hashtags, followed by pizza and then tacos, ranking in third and fourth place respectively. Another Italian recipe featured in the top five trending vegan dishes is ravioli, with the deliciously filled pasta amassing a staggering 13.4 million hashtag views. Other Italian dishes featured in the top 20 include vegan pesto, tiramisu, risotto, gnocchi and gelato.

American dishes appear three times in the top 20; vegan cheesecake ranks as the sixth most-watched vegan recipe with 11.5 million hashtag views by those who want a plant-based sweet treat. Followed by mac and cheese in seventh place with 10.3 million views, and vegan hotdogs, which are 13th on the top trending list.

Besides Italian and American dishes, the other cuisines featured in the top trending list include Mexican as vegan tacos are the fourth most-watched recipe on TikTok and nachos are 14th with an impressive 2.6 million views. 

Dumplings are the only Chinese recipe in the top 20 and ramen is the only Japanese dish on the list; meanwhile, two Turkish recipes feature, as vegan kebabs round off the top 10, and lahmacun (Turkish flatbread) completes the top 20.

Table: TikTok’s top trending vegan recipes

Rank	Meals	Cuisine	Hashtag	Tik Tok Views
1	Vegan Pasta	Italian	#veganpasta	48,200,000
2	Vegan Sushi	Japanese	#vegansushi	47,100,000
3	Vegan Pizza	Italian	#veganpizza	37,500,000
4	Vegan Tacos	Mexican	#vegantacos	20,200,000
5	Vegan Ravioli	Italian	#veganravioli	13,400,000
6	Vegan Cheesecake	American	#vegancheesecake	11,500,000
7	Vegan Mac and Cheese	American	#veganmacandcheese	10,300,000
8	Vegan Dumplings	Chinese	#vegandumplings	7,300,000
9	Vegan Ramen	Japanese	#veganramen	7,000,000
10	Vegan Kebab	Turkish	#vegankebab	6,800,000
11	Vegan Kimchi	Korean	#vegankimchi	5,100,000
12	Vegan Pesto	Italian	#veganpesto	3,800,000
13	Vegan Hotdog	American	#veganhotdog	2,900,000
14	Vegan Nachos	Mexican	#vegannachos	2,600,000
15	Vegan Tiramisu	Italian	#vegantiramisu	2,500,000
16	Vegan Risotto	Italian	#veganrisotto	2,000,000
17	Vegan Empanadas	Portuguese	#veganempanadas	2,000,000
18	Vegan Gnocchi	Italian	#vegangnocchi	1,200,000
19	Vegan Gelato	Italian	#vegangelato	1,100,000
20	Vegan Lahmacun	Turkish	#veganlahmacun	1,100,000

Source: Uswitch.com

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, commented: “The food we eat can have a huge impact on the environment, so it’s important to be aware of the effects of our diet.

“Our food industry contributes 91 million tonnes of CO2 to our overall emissions, which is 20% of the UK’s total. 

“By trying a vegan diet, which many do in ‘Veganuary’, we could cut this number by over a third, reducing emissions by 31 million tonnes. 

“Switching to a vegetarian diet can also have an impact, as our research predicts a 15% decrease in total diet-related emissions if everybody in the UK cut out meat.”

If this has 1) made you hungry and 2) made you curious about how you can reduce the carbon emissions of your diet, check out Uswitch’s Net Zero Tool. 

@fitgreenmind

You’ll love it…pinky promise! 😉🤞 #veganfood #vegansushi #veganrecipes #fyp #foryou #vegantiktok

♬ Originalton – Maya Leinenbach

@seemagetsbaked

So easy and incredibly delcious. Add this to your repertoire xx #vegan #veganuary #vodkarigatoni #veganpasta #tomatopasta

♬ original sound – Seema Pankhania

@dr.vegan

#pizza #veganpizza #veganpizzarecipe #veganpizzaexpress #veganpizzas #pizzavegana #veggiepizza #pizzavegetariana #pizzaveggie #vegpizza #pizzarecipe #pizzarecipes #veganpizzas #veganrecipevideos #vegan #pizzavegan #vegpie #veganitalia #veganitalian #italianvegan #veganitalianfood #veganitaly

♬ That’s Amore – Dean Martin

@tatytable

These #vegan #birria #tacos are an alternative version of the authentic #recipe 🌮 #homemade full recipe on my IG 🙌🏽

♬ Cancion Del Mariachi (Desperado) [Antonio Banderas Guitar] – LucasGitanoFamily

@gabydimova

Just making some ravioli🤍 Full recipe for these vegan ravioli is now on my IG page @ veggieworldrecipes ✨ #ravioli #pastatiktok #veganravioli

♬ When Magic Happens – Cinthya Garcia

@fitgreenmind

A cheesecake but vegan 🎂😜 #vegan #vegancake #veganbaking #veganrecipes #fyp #veganfood

♬ Originalton – Maya Leinenbach

@harleighfairgriev

Vegan / Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese (I used gluten free macaroni) 🧀 #fyp #macandcheese #vegan #glutenfree #veganmacandcheese #glutenfreemacandcheese #makingmyboyfriendlunch #makingmyboyfriendfood #family #dayinthelife #firsttimemom

♬ original sound – Harleigh Fairgrieve

@tiffycooks

Dumplings 🥟 is 10000% the best thing on earth. #dumplings #vegetarian #easyrecipe

♬ Sunny Day – Ted Fresco

@bakinghermann

Tahini & Miso Ramen. Hear me out. 🍜#veganuary #ramen #noodles

♬ original sound – Julius Fiedler

@thenottychef

Ep:3 #veganuary kebabs #learnontiktok #familyrecipe #veganuary2022 #hello2022

♬ Italian Dinner Party – Italian Restaurant Music of Italy