What is Veganuary and how to participate

by Ashley Peterson January 3, 2022

I can hardly believe that 2021 has come and gone and with the new year in full swing, it's time to participate in Veganuary.

I really love this yearly challenge, as it's not only a great way to fight climate change, it promotes animal welfare. It also reminds me to switch up my mundane meals from last year and spruce it up with a new vegan recipe. If you haven't participated in the Veganuary Challenge, I hope you find this article helpful, let us know in the comments below.

What is Veganuary?

Veganuary is a campaign observed throughout January to encourage people to try a vegan lifestyle. The Veganuary campaign was created in 2013 by Jane Land and Mathew Glover, a vegan couple looking to inspire and encourage a vegan way of life. Beginning with only a few thousand participants, the 2021 Veganuary challenge grew to nearly 600,000 participants. Veganuary is now a registered charity in England and Wales inspiring the world to try vegan in January and throughout the year.

What does vegan mean?

Being vegan means you eat a plant-based diet and do not wear or purchase products that have animal bi-products in them. A plant-based diet does not consist of animal products like honey, eggs, milk, fish, or meat. Other items you would steer away from if considering to go vegan would be purchasing a new leather belt or pair of shoes, but there is debate about vegans wearing vintage leather goods.

happy cow

Why do people participate in Veganuary?

People participate in Veganuary for 3 key reasons, to protect animals, to protect the environment, and for health benefits. Animals are intensively farmed more and more every year with growing populations and demands. This often means that animal welfare goes decreases. Going vegan, even for a day, can help counteract this trend. People also try vegan for the environment. There is a growing scientific link between climate change and the farming of livestock. This is due to deforesting the land required to farm. Farming livestock also increases soil, water, and air pollution. Lastly, people participate in Veganuary for the health benefits of a vegan diet. Many people who switch to a vegan diet report improvements to their health, from better skin to improved digestion. Remember, it's always good to talk to your doctor before considering a diet change.

How to participate in Veganuary

Participating in the Veganuary Challenge is easy and flexible. You can pledge to go completely vegan for the whole month of January or scale it back to a couple of weeks, or even just a day. It's entirely up to you. You can also participate in Veganuary by fundraising or donating to the organisation, which helps fight animal cruelty and climate change.