Key facts

• World’s oldest vegan organisation – The Vegan Society was founded in 1944 in the UK. Every year we celebrate World Vegan Month in November and World Vegan Day (1 November) to shine a light on how far the vegan movement has come.  
• We coined the term ‘vegan’ – At the establishment of the Society, the founding members coined the term ‘vegan’ to describe the lifestyle of what were then called non-dairy vegetarians. The word ‘vegan’ was created from the first and last letters of ‘vegetarian’. 
• Definition of veganism – The Vegan Society’s formal definition is:  

• The Vegan Trademark – The Vegan Society created The Vegan Trademark in 1990. This trusted certification is recognised globally and helps consumers find vegan products.   
• Everyone is welcome to join The Vegan Society as a member . Whether you have been a vegan for a long time, are completely new to veganism or simply curious, we have a membership to suit everyone! You can receive nutritional guidance, enter member-only competitions and read through our quarterly magazine, The Vegan, which is packed with recipes interviews and exclusive insights and features.  
• Nutritional guidance – Our Dietitians have put together useful nutrition and health resources so that you can get the most out your of your vegan lifestyle.   
• Campaigns– The Vegan Society promotes veganism to different audiences through our campaigns, which are informed by our organisational strategy and specific objectives.  
• Policy – We work with policy makers on issues around sustainable agriculture, climate change and public sector provision to make a difference.   
• Research – The Vegan Society has two research communities: The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and the Researcher Network (RN).  
• Vegan-Inclusive Education – This approach to learning integrates vegan values, perspectives and practices into the curriculum and overall environment. We have a range of resources available to support teachers and parents with incorporating veganism into school life.  
• VEG 1 – We developed a nutritional supplement that is available to purchase through our website. It provides an affordable, reliable source of vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine and selenium.  

Facts about The Vegan Trademark

• The Vegan Trademark was introduced in 1990 to help businesses showcase their products achieving the authentic international vegan standard set by The Vegan Society.   
• There are over 70,000 products registered with The Vegan Trademark across 68 countries.   
• We can certify any vegan product with a traceable supply chain – some notable ‘firsts’ include a violin, bamboo flooring, paracetamol and a leather alternative made from apple waste.  
• 89% look for vegan certification logos on the packaging and/or promotional material when buying food and drink products for the first time.* 
• 80% of Gen Z and Millennials actively seek vegan certification on cosmetics* 
• Vegan Trademark holders benefit not just from showing their hard-earned certification on their products and in their marketing materials, but also gain exclusive promotional opportunities and access to our community of businesses, partners and engaged vegan consumers.  

* According to Attest surveys completed online for The Vegan Society of 1,000 UK and 1,000 US primarily non-meat eating adults in November 2023 

• Veganism attracts protection under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and ethical veganism is a protected characteristic for the purposes of the British Equality Act 2010. 
• A well-planned vegan diet is suitable for everyone, a message that is supported by the British Dietetic Association. 
• 2020 became the year that every one of the top ten UK supermarkets (by revenue) had its own vegan range. 
• The sign-up for the Veganuary’s campaign – where people eat vegan for the month of January – hit record highs in 2022, with over 700,000 people signing up from almost every country in the world. Sources: [1], [2], [3] 
• We can always be more sustainable in our food choices, but a vegan diet is the most sustainable of all diets resulting in half the GHG emissions of 'conventional' diets. Source 
• In 2023, analysis by the Office of Health Economics revealed that 100% adoption of plant-based diets in England could save the NHS around £6.7 billion over a year. There could be 2.1 million fewer cases of disease and a gain of more than 170,000 quality-adjusted life years across England.  Source 
• A global move to a vegan diet would avert 8.1 million premature deaths per year. Sources: [1], [2]