Plant-based school food programme receives nomination for £1m Earthshot Prize
The Earthshot Prize was launched by Prince William in 2020 to find the most impactful solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.
There are five prize categories including: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World and Fix Our Climate. A winner is selected from each category and given £1m to further their work.
ProVeg UK’s School Plates programme has turned over 14.5 million school dinners to meat-free or plant-based alternatives since its launch in 2018 to protect the planet and improve children’s health.
Over 6,500 schools are enrolled in the School Plates programme, responsible for providing healthier and more planet-friendly meals to over one million schoolchildren every day.
Jimmy Pierson, director of ProVeg UK, said: “We launched School Plates to help children and the planet, and it’s been our privilege to support caterers to make more planet-friendly menus and educate pupils about the impact of their food choices.
“To be nominated for an award as prestigious as the Earthshot Prize, recognising our commitment and determination to make school food healthier and more sustainable, is a credit to our dedicated and ambitious team, and the openness and willingness of our school catering partners to embrace the benefits of plant-based food.”
It’s estimated that UK schools serve 1.2 billion meals every year, with most of these meals containing carbon-heavy animal products. Food production is responsible for 78% of the emissions of UK school catering services, with more than half of those emissions attributed solely to meat.