Since the early 2010s, veganism has become increasingly popular: there are an estimated 79 million vegans in the world – but what is all the fuss about and what does veganism actually mean?

Veganism is, quite simply, the practice of avoiding all animal products. Its rise in popularity is partly due to the growing awareness of the impact the meat and dairy industries have on the environment. 

As adopting a vegan lifestyle has become more mainstream, not only has the movement become easier than ever to be a part of, but, to many, it is also seen as an indicator of one’s political alignment.

How did veganism start?

Firstly, the idea of cutting out meat and dairy is not new. Abstaining from consuming animal products has been recorded since at least the 10th century, when poet and philosopher Al-Ma’arri adopted a ‘moral vegetarian’ stance.

Other early proponents include Lewis Gompertz, a founding member of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, but it was Donald Watson who coined the term ‘vegan’ in 1944.

Watson was previously a member of the UK-based Vegetarian Society, but when his request for a ‘non-dairy vegetarian’ subsection of the newsletter was rejected, he and several friends founded the Vegan Society.

The term ‘vegan’ is a portmanteau of the first and last letters of ‘vegetarian’. 

Where is veganism most popular?

Having started as a minor subculture in England, veganism has now reached a global scale. In 2020, a survey conducted by food magazine Chef’s Pencil revealed the top five countries where the movement was deemed most popular:

• United Kingdom
• Australia
• Israel
• Austria
• New Zealand

Is there just one type of veganism?

Much like other diets, how exactly one identifies as vegan can vary in personal definition and purpose; however, we can narrow it down to four main types:

• Environmental: the meat and dairy industries contribute 35% to global greenhouse gas emissions, so not consuming animal produce is a way of reducing one’s carbon footprint.

• Ethical: Some people go vegan because they are against animal cruelty, and believe that the animals farmed for meat and dairy products are sentient beings who are exploited for consumption.

• Health: meat consumption has long been documented to cause serious illnesses such as diabetes, so those who are more conscious of their health opt for a vegan diet.

• Religious: plant-based eating is culturally significant for religions such as Jainism and Buddhism.

How does veganism affect the environment?

Veganism is beneficial to the environment in a number of ways.

The process of producing meat, dairy, and other animal resources requires a lot of land. The act of deforestation for agricultural practices depletes the amount of natural vegetation, and so there are less trees and plants to absorb carbon dioxide. 

By adopting a plant-based diet, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 49%, allowing for vegetation restoration and growth, or, as it is also known as, rewilding.

Veganism can also increase our freshwater supply: the meat industry requires vast amounts of water, which runs the risk of a water scarcity. By going vegan, we can ensure that more water is conserved for the future. 

Is veganism a social movement?

Veganism has often been associated with having a social or political cause; for example, ethical vegans oppose the notion of animals being consumerist products, and so therefore avoid any products associated with animal labor. 

In 2020, a tribunal in the UK ruled that ethical veganism constitutes a philosophical belief and is thus protected by law against discrimination.  

Some people, moreover, adopt plant-based diets due to their involvement in climate activism and opposition to the meat industry.