Vegan charity Viva! is on a mission to ensure that 50% of the dishes on restaurant menus are plant-based by 2025. It’s an exciting campaign, and here’s more about it—and how you can get involved!

In the UK, we dine out on average 1.5 times per week. This means our nation’s restaurants have a significant influence on encouraging people to talk about, celebrate, and enjoy more plant-based meals.

Research from Viva’s 50 For Our Planet team shows that 68% of people believe it’s important for restaurants to reduce their environmental impact through the food they serve.

The solution is simple: more plants on plates!

To make this happen, Viva! has launched a campaign aimed at having 50% of restaurant menu items be plant-based by 2025. Hence the name of the campaign: 50 For Our Planet!

Viva! is supporting restaurants of all sizes in making this transition by providing expert advice, insights from industry leaders, renowned chefs, and plant-based food brands. Participating restaurants will also receive a free Menu Impact Score from a leading carbon labelling company.

Big names like Wagamama, Burger King, and IKEA have already joined the cause, and Viva! is running a leaderboard to track their progress. You can check out the leaderboard on their website.

But Viva! needs our help as well. As diners, we can encourage more restaurants to add plant-based options to their menus, celebrate plant-based dining, and spread the word about the 50 For Our Planet campaign.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Complete the form on Viva!’s website to ask them to contact your favourite restaurant about getting involved.
• Leave a positive Google review, urging your go-to restaurants to sign up for 50 For Our Planet.
• Order the 50 For Our Planet leaflet door-dropper pack to raise awareness in your neighbourhood.
• Share this article.
• My personal favourite: order a pack of Viva’s 50 For Our Planet cards from their website and leave one at the next restaurant you visit, encouraging them to join the campaign.

You can find all of these resources and more on Viva’s website.

I’m a huge fan of Viva’s 50 For Our Planet campaign. It brings together businesses—especially restaurants—that have the power to create significant change for our health, the environment, and the well-being of all living creatures.

Let’s get behind this dining revolution and help make 50 For Our Planet a huge success!