Berlin’s university canteens will be nearly meat-free from October

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?