The city’s four universities will swap traditional meat dishes for whole grains, seeds, and vegetables in response to student concerns over climate change.
As the conversation around climate protection continues to advance, vegan and vegetarian diets have been pinpointed as the simplest way to reduce our individual carbon footprint.
Here at Thred, we know that young people are leaders in pushing for sustainable practices around the world – and students in one of Europe’s most meat-loving countries are no exception.
A survey conducted in 2019 revealed that nearly 14 percent of people studying at Berlin’s university campuses described themselves as vegan, with a further 33 percent saying they are vegetarian.
That same year, the city’s university canteens reportedly fed over 5.6 million students.
Studierendenwerk, a student support group in the capital, noted an increase in requests for a ‘more climate-friendly’ selection at on-campus eateries – and now they’re delivering.
From October, every Berlin-based university will serve a menu that is 68% vegan, 28% vegetarian, and 2% fish-based, with only a single meat option offered four days a week.
Mondays will be completely meat free – furthering the initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of the institutions city-wide.
The popularity of two plant-based canteens known as Veggie No.1 and Veggie No.2 have proven that access to vegan and vegetarian options is a priority for those choosing to study in the capital.
The restaurant Veggie No.2 started out as an ‘experimental initiative’ which offered tasty vegan food at discounted prices for students and professors. Its positive response paved the way for the new menu coming next month.
Studierendenwerk also stated that while meat dishes like currywurst are a traditional staple in the country, a preference for plant-based diets is growing rapidly.
In fact, an international study of dietary habits led by Veganz revealed that 2.6 million people in Germany are vegan and about 3.6 million are vegetarian – that’s almost 8 percent of its total population.
The revamped canteen menu is an impactful step towards making the capital’s universities more climate-friendly, with more changes already in the works.
Berlin’s Humboldt University has begun outlining its plan to become climate neutral by 2030, with The Technical University aiming for the same goal by 2045.
As this more climate-conscious generation creates a demand for less meat on their menus, trends could suggest that we are beginning to transition towards a more plant-based society.
And with an array of affordable – and tasty – vegetarian and vegan options cropping up all over, why not?
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Discrimination towards Travellers is arguably the last accepted form of racism. Why are we still looking the other way?
Given the persistent instances of violence, stereotyping, and socio-political oppression across the country, it’s sometimes hard to believe that racism is generally condemned in the UK. But we have – thankfully – reached a point where the majority of Brits would agree race-based discrimination is wrong, and there are laws in...
A new study has found that economic models have underestimated how global warming will affect the public’s wealth, with new calculations suggesting the average person will be 40% poorer.
It looks like our current predictions for global warming have underestimated how badly it will affect our personal finances.
A new study by Australian scientists, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters this week, suggests that global GDP per person will...
The percentage of people who selectively avoid news has reportedly reached 39% globally. This is an increase of 10% in less than a decade.
Blissful ignorance or doomscroll-induced anxiety? Pick your poison.
It’s no secret that the state of the world is causing mass panic. Cost of living is on a continual ascent, the climate situation is perilously grim, war crimes are occurring on a daily basis, the threat of terrorism...
The 2000s was not the only period when the dot-com bubble burst in the market; it was also the beginning of a new type of cost - the safety of many, particularly women and girls worldwide.
Although an online presence can create a haven for equal access to information and a platform for freedom of expression, its potential for the better has been manipulated for something darker.
Recent policy changes by META to...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok