What's The Big Deal with Plant-based Diets?

making one difference at a time, together we can make change.

What is going green?

It means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations.

Carbon Footprint

When we walk along the beach, footprints are left behind. Footprints in sand are not the only way in which people leave behind a mark on their surroundings.

We also leave behind an invisible footprint in everything we do. It is known as our carbon footprint. Carbon footprints measure the total amount of carbon dioxide which is released into the air as a result of our actions.

We play an important role in reducing our carbon footprint. Here are some simple suggestions:

1. Switch off the lights in the meeting room when not in use.

2. Print less. If you need to print, print double-sided, black and white, and on recycled paper.

3. Use water dispensers and avoid single-use plastic bottles.

4. Recycle office recyclables

5. Introduce new plants - helps to purify the air and gives the office a vibrant look

6. During lunch - Bring your own reusable mugs/containers/cutlery. Refuse straws and minimise single use plastic cutlery.

7. Take the public transport, carpool or ride the bike.

In addition, there is another area where we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

Food Choices

Following a plant-based diet cuts your food carbon footprint in half. This is because two-thirds of agriculture-related greenhouse gases come from livestock.

Global Warming

After energy production, livestock is the second highest contributor to total gas emission. Nearly one fifth of all the greenhouse gas is produced by livestock production. Meat causes more emissions than all of transportation combined: cars, trains, planes, buses, boats, all of it.

Production of Animal for Food Contributes to:

1. Animals' digestive processes produce large amounts of methane, and livestock manure releases large volumes of nitrous oxide and methane.

2. Livestock production uses 1000 times more water than most vegetables do and this leads to water scarcity.

3. Freshwater fish are at the risk of going extinct. If this happens, it will affect ecosystems, food chains and we will face major consequences.

4. Rainforests are burnt down to acquire more land. For example, the Amazon Rainforest. It's estimated that 13,235 km (8,224 sq miles) of forest was lost between August 2020 and July 2021, a 22% increase from the last year.

5. The ocean is greatly affected by our carbon footprint. There are changes in oceanic circulation and chemistry, rising sea levels, more intense storms and changes in the diversity and number of marine species.

6. While there are 350 children dying every hour because of hunger, here a huge amount of corn and soy is grown to feed the cattle.

7. Animals are overfed and have trouble digesting. They're then given drugs to help with this.

What can I do today?

Now that we have this knowledge, we educate ourselves and empower others to make the right choice. For the environment, your health, your finances, for the 10 billion animals who are raised under unpleasant factory farm conditions and even for anyone with a weight loss goal, we can opt for a plant-based diet and reduce our meat consumption. Through small changes, collectively as a group, we stand united and send a strong message to the community.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

- Mahatma Gandhi