Why This is Green

A vegan diet does not include meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or anything animal-derived like gelatin. Beyond food, many vegans also avoid animal byproducts in cosmetic ingredients plus leather and feathers in clothing, shoes, and furniture. The conventional production of meat--from feed to slaughter to transport—is energy intensive. By eating vegan, you eliminate this environmental impact from your personal consumption.

The global demand for meat has risen dramatically in the past few decades, leading to an increase in factory farms. The average family of four consumes between 500 to 800 pounds of meat yearly. This kind of mass production consumes enormous amounts of energy, pollutes the air and waterways, and requires increasing amounts of corn, soy, and other grains—often genetically modified and intensively sprayed with pesticides. This has led to the destruction of vast plots of the world’s tropical rain forests. There are many studies comparing vegan and meat-based diets. One often quoted stat: a meal of fruits, vegetables, and grains generates 24 times less greenhouse gas emissions than 6 ounces of conventionally raised beef.

The health benefits of veganism depend on what you eat--processed packaged foods aren’t as nutritious as whole foods. There has been some concern about the health effects of highly processed soy. Also, for people interested in eating local foods, soy isn’t always local.

Learn More

• The Vegetarian Resource Group: Veganism In A Nutshell
• The Vegan Society: Why Go Vegan?
• Bookmark This Site: VeganOutreach.org
• E: The Environmental Magazine: The Case Against Meat
• PracticallyGreen.com: PG Picks--Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2011; 8 Doomed Items In The Green World; Green Wine Guide; Alicia Silverstone; Audi Green Superbowl Commerical; And Top 5 Green Gadgets That Juice Your Phone!
• Agency For Healthcare Research And Quality: Effects Of Soy On Health Outcomes