Going vegan is considered one of the newer Generation Z/ Millennial trends, but it’s also much more than just a trend. Veganism is where you cut out animal products as well as the consumption of animals themselves. Also defined by healthline.com as, “a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, be it from food, clothing, or any other purpose.” It has made a meteoric rise amongst younger generations; according to statistica, veganism/vegetarianism is “more common among younger eaters with 7 percent of people aged 18-29 saying they are vegetarian while 3 percent say they are vegan.” This doesn’t even include the age groups under 18 because veganism is highly popular amongst Gen Z as well.
According to Forbes.com, “About 12% of Millennials describe themselves as vegetarians or vegans, 11% of boomers, 8% of Gen Xers and 7% of Gen Z, she said.” This is a really interesting statistic because it comes from a restaurant owner who has vegan products, which may affect this statistic because younger generations have less accessibility to vegan restaurants because most don’t have an individual income or car. One of the appeals of veganism is it’s environmental impact. It’s been deemed “the single most impactful thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint”.
According to the UN, “meat and dairy (farmed livestock) accounts for 14.5% of all man made greenhouse gas emissions. “ This is an enormous percentage of greenhouse gasses that could be easily reduced by a slight lifestyle change. Another statement by the PNAS reinforces this statement by releasing research that came to the conclusion, “If we all went vegan, the world’s food-related emissions would drop 70% by 2050”. This shows many emissions are largely based in food groups that are eliminated in a vegan diet.
Veganism isn’t just for the environment though, it also has ethical and health benefits. If you chose to become an ethical vegan, this means only consuming cruelty-free products and avoiding using products that have ties to animal sufferance.
According to the International Agency for Research on cancer, “processed meats are listed alongside other group 1 carcinogens such as tobacco, alcohol, asbestos, and arsenic.” This means veganism can actually reduce your risk of cancer which is definitely a good reason to become vegan. Many clothing brands also take the initiative to apply vegan, sustainable practices like CHNGE, Patagonia, and Girlfriend Collective(sustainability ratings can be found on good on you). Overall, veganism is extremely popular amongst the younger generations, and for good reason; veganism is beneficial to our health, it’s better for the environment, and is considered to be ethical.
