one last ask!! 🏃🏻‍♀️

The weekend is here: I’m running the London Marathon on Sunday!! I’m running for veganuary - the charity that not only has made it so much easier to go vegan, but has also kept so many animals off of plates by doing that. I’ve been vegan since ’07, and the difference between then and now is incredible and SO many of those changes trace back to Veganuary. Couldn’t be prouder to be running for them.

Huge thank you to everyone that’s already donated! It’s tough when you don’t have colleagues to pester every day, so I really appreciate the support.

Double donations?? I’ve just been told that a close supporter of Veganuary will be matching the donations I raise!! So for anyone who donates, your donation is worth twice as much/will be doubled e.g. If you give £10, it’ll be worth £20 to Veganuary. Anything you can give is appreciated! Donate here. <3

For anyone watching: I’ll be posting my race day look and bib number to Instagram ahead of the marathon morning - so please take a look! If you can drop me a comment or DM letting me know where I can spot you that’d be fab! I should be heading off at 10:30am and am aiming to complete in 4h 30m (ish).

Anyway, enough waffling on. Thank you again for all the support!

food

study confirms meat and dairy are bare faced greenwashers 🐄

A new study has found that nearly all environmental claims made by major meat and dairy companies fall apart under scrutiny. Shocker.

Researchers in the US analysed 1,233 claims and found that around 98% (!!) were misleading, unverifiable, or lacked evidence, with just three backed by solid science. Many focus on distant net-zero targets, small pilot schemes, or carbon offsetting rather than real emissions cuts.

No wonder my comments section is always full of trolls telling me that ‘going vegan is actually worse for the environment’. When companies are allowed to pump out misleading claims, ofc it creates confusion and delays meaningful climate action in one of the highest-emitting sectors. That’s the whole point.

is the raw milk wellness fad coming to the uk?

They say when the US sneezes, the UK catches a cold and this time it’s raw milk. It’s gaining popularity over here now too, wrapped up in ideas of “natural” living and minimal processing. But behind the aesthetic, health authorities continue to flag the risks of drinking unpasteurised milk.

Brands are already adapting: Modern Milkman has launched “brewed milk”, using lower-temperature pasteurisation to keep that “closer to the farm” feel while staying within UK safety rules. I’m so sick of this “wellness” trend. We’re in a climate crisis, pick the plant milk.

celeb backed tube ads challenge pig slaughter

We’ve got another vegan-friendly tube campaign! This time celebrities - oganised by Project Slingshot - challenge the use of CO₂ gas to kill pigs, a method used in the majority of UK slaughterhouses. It’s been hard to spot this week amongst the tube strikes but make sure to look out for the ads next time you’re on the London Underground!

The rest bite sized:

• Ocado has launched a “Future of Food” aisle, spotlighting brands focused on sustainability and innovation. Developed with Future of Food, the range includes Wildfarmed, ChicP and Bold Bean. Even better, environmental claims are independently verified via Provenance (aka exactly how it should be done)!

• Grubby has expanded its frozen range with seven new plant based meals, bringing the total to 16. New dishes include teriyaki udon, tofu carbonara and lentil moussaka, each packing around 25g protein and 10g fibre.

• Gosh! has launched “Super Plants” sausages made from whole foods like vegetables, legumes and seeds. Instead of mimicking meat, the range leans into the growing demand for fibre-rich, minimally processed options.

• The Coconut Collab has launched a dairy-free natural kefir, expanding its gut health range! Fermented drinks are having a moment, and this is a dairy-free way in. Definitely keen to try!

consumption

eu moves to make phones last longer

From 2027, phones sold across the EU will need to meet new rules designed to last longer, perform better over time, and be easier to repair!! Hallelujah! One of the biggest shifts is batteries, which in many cases will need to be replaceable. That alone could save people from replacing an otherwise perfectly good phone just because it won’t hold charge!

Honestly, this is huge. Forced overconsumption is one of the most frustrating parts of modern life, especially with tech. Let’s hope this is just the start, and that pressure builds for longer software support too, not updates that slowly push your device towards obsolescence.

the rest bite sized:

• Specsavers is rolling out their recycling boxes nationwide, giving customers a greener way to dispose of glasses, cases and contact lens packaging. Partnering with MyGroup, hard-to-recycle plastics are turned into items like furniture. In 2025, 72 tonnes were collected and now there’s 300 more stores joining the scheme! Woop!

• Elizabeth Scarlett and Nobody’s Child (rated ‘good’ on Good on You) have reunited for their “Dear Summer” collection. Spanning sizes 4–22, the drop supports ocean conservation, with £15,000 donated to Blue Marine Foundation.

eco

• Electric car sales jump 51% across mainland Europe with 224,000 EVs registered in March alone! Rising fuel prices are accelerating the shift away from petrol. Countries like Norway lead the way, thanks to strong government support, better infrastructure, and policies that make switching feel less like a leap and more like the default.

• Greenpeace UK installed a mini wind farm on Trump Turnberry Golf Club in protest against fossil fuel expansion. The message is simple: renewables offer cheaper, more secure energy, while oil and gas keep bills high. The turbines were quickly removed, but the point remained.

• All six winners of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize are women for the first time! Campaigners from across the world have been recognised for work spanning climate justice, conservation, and resisting fossil fuel expansion. Read more here.

podcast rec:

This week the Guardian did a podcast ep connecting the climate crisis to national security which I thought was really interesting. Worth a listen, or a strategic share, especially for anyone who still sees climate as separate from “real world” issues.

pop culture

With Eurovision coming up, let’s take a look at the protests going on as a growing number of countries and communities are refusing to let Israel be artwashed:

• Broadcasters in Ireland, Spain and Slovenia are refusing to air the contest over Israel’s participation, with Slovenia instead planning to show Palestinian films. Bravo.

• The Netherlands and Iceland won’t take part either, though they’ll still broadcast it.

• Meanwhile, artists including Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Paul Weller and Kneecap are among 1,100+ calling for a boycott.

Why is it important to exclude Israel from Eurovision? Excluding Israel from events like Eurovision is the least that can be done - taking that stage away withdraws visibility, legitimacy and soft power. When governments fail to act, cultural boycotts become one of the few remaining ways to demand accountability.

beauty

are your cosmetics polluting your body??

A new study found that cutting back on cosmetics for just five days led to a sharp drop in chemical exposure. Participants saw reductions in substances like phthalates, parabens and BPA, all linked to hormone disruption. The changes happened quickly, suggesting daily product use plays a direct role in how much of these compounds build up in the body. Yikes.

benefit has gone cruelty free!

Thrilled to announce that Benefit has officially gone cruelty-free! Leaping Bunny approved and everything! For those concerned about parent companies (hi, me too!), it’s bad news. Their owners LVMH are not cruelty-free. If you wanna read more about Benefit, LVMH and how to spot their vegan products - check out this post.

the rest bite sized:

• Cruelty-free brand Milani Cosmetics is hosting a one-day pop-up at FILTRD Covent Garden on 25 April, spotlighting its revamped Baked range. The formulas now promise up to 12-hour wear with added skincare ingredients. Expect shade matching, 200 goodie bags and free cookies, as the brand continues its UK expansion.

• Sephora has been told to introduce safeguards around anti-ageing skincare marketing aimed at children. Following an investigation, the retailer will add warnings and disclaimers for products with high-strength actives, particularly for under-13s. As they should.

• Shopping with Lush this month? Spend £15 through my affiliate link here and you’ll get a full-size 100g Sticky Dates Hair Primer completely free. The offer runs until 30 April, online only, UK residents 18+. A little bonus if you were already planning a restock. Find the full T&Cs here.

That’s it! See you next week, on the other side of the finish line! x

I feel like it’s been ages since we’ve had a big brand go cruelty-free, so I’m not that surprised that the internet’s treated the news with suspicion! My DMs have been going crazy with people asking if it’s true… Are Benefit now on our cruelty-free safe list?

So let’s get to it! Have Benefit gone cruelty-free? Do they have vegan ranges? Are there any other concerns around the brand that might have us boycotting? Grab a cuppa, let’s get into it…

This post contains affilaite links.

is Benefit cruelty-free?

as of April 2026: yes!

Benefit Cosmetics is now (just this week!) certified by Cruelty Free International - aka one of the most rigorous, independently verified cruelty-free programmes globally. This is absolutely the accreditation you’d hope to see when a major brand decides to properly shift its animal testing stance. Very good! Just might be a while before you see the certification logo on products.

However… Benefit is owned by LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), who acquired the brand in 1999. While Benefit itself is now cruelty-free, LVMH still is not. So whether you choose to support the brand may come down to your stance on parent companies.

Additionally, some consumers choose to avoid LVMH more broadly due to wider ethical concerns, including reported ties to Israel (though it’s not on the official BDS list) - so that may also factor into your decision.

are Benefit products vegan?

Sadly, their vegan ethics are vague at best. Benefit Cosmetics doesn’t clearly label which of their products are vegan - not on product pages, and not in their FAQs.

So if you’re trying to shop vegan, your best bet right now is to contact their customer services directly for specific products. It’s not ideal, but the more people ask, the more pressure there is for better labelling down the line.

alternatives to Benefit…

Between unclear vegan labelling and the parent company situation, I’ll personally be skipping Benefit for now. If you’re looking for similar products with clearer ethics, here are some strong alternatives:

for that “Benefit but cruelty-free” feel

• Milk Makeup - fully vegan and cruelty free. Less cutesy, but great performance:

  • Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer → smooth, pore-blurring base

  • KUSH Big Hit Volumizing Mascara → bold, fluffy lashes

• Makeup Revolution – big on dupes, clearly labels vegan products

  • Revolution Pore Blur Primer → similar pore-minimising on a budget

  • Revolution Mega Bronzer → shade ‘01 cool’ is a good swap for Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer

if you’re looking for a vegan Benetint

• Ere Perez – their Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint is a great swap for Benetint

• Violette_FR – their Lip Nectar and Plume Lip both double up beautifully as cheek colour

if you want a slightly more “grown-up glow”

• Glossier - minimal, skin-first, sheer tints (vegan options)

• Rare Beauty - soft glam, liquid blushes (fully vegan)

final thoughts

It is genuinely great to see Benefit Cosmetics become cruelty-free. Moves like this show that consumer pressure works and every brand that makes the switch is a step in the right direction. That said, for me, the lack of vegan transparency and the connection to LVMH means I won’t be buying from them right now.

Where you land will depend on your own boundaries, I just hope that this post has helped you make an informed decision!

If you want to keep up with vegan beauty news, brand updates, and cruelty-free swaps, make sure you sign up to my free weekly newsletter

Welcome back to Susty Scoops, your weekly round-up of the greener (and occasionally weirder) stories that may have slipped you by…

food

finland’s ‘tofu boom’ explained 🇫🇮

Ever wondered how to get people eating more tofu? Well, Finland’s reporting sales of tofu jumping by 12 per cent and canned legumes rising by 14 per cent over the last year. Here’s how they did it…

Step 1: The Finnish government refreshed its nutrition guidelines in 2024, explicitly linking diet to both health and environmental impact. Aka less red and processed meat, more plant proteins like beans, lentils, and (of course) tofu.

Step 2: Nothing was restricted or removed. People weren’t told what they couldn’t eat, just what might be better.

Step 3: Retail followed the signal. As demand ticked up, supermarkets stocked more plant-based options… which then made it even easier for more people to try them.

So basically, it goes to show: when the info is clear, credible, and everywhere, people don’t need forcing. They just need a nudge… and a decent tofu aisle.

eu might ruin the uk’s lab-grown meat boom 🥲

The FSA has warned cultivated meat companies they may need to go back to the drawing board due to the proposed EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) deal. If agreed, the UK could end up aligning more closely with EU rules… potentially slowing down approvals and putting the brakes on the UK’s alt-protein momentum.

eco

ai emissions: classified?? 🔒

Another reason to hate AI… Tech companies are building vast, energy-hungry datacentres to power AI and now, thanks to lobbying, much of their environmental impact will be kept hidden!!

New EU rules mean key emissions data can’t be made public, limiting scrutiny just as demand for power is surging. Read more about it here.

Though, if that’s bummed you out, here’s a bit of anti-AI joy: a new report finds nearly a third of workers are resisting AI in the workplace! Gen Z are leading the resistance, with 44% admitting they’ve “sabotaged” AI tools at work in some way! Love to see it!

could your electricity bills finally be less tied to gas? ⚡

The UK gov is exploring plans to break the link between gas prices and electricity costs, because right now expensive gas can drive up bills… even when it’s the cheaper renewables that are generating power!!

If implemented, this could make energy prices less volatile and better reflect the growing share of renewables. It’s a big shift, and details are still being worked out, but it’s definitely promising!

a massive oyster comeback is underway in the uk 🦪

More than 15 million oysters are set to be released into the North Sea as part of one of the UK’s biggest marine rewilding projects. The goal is to restore lost oyster beds, which once covered huge areas of coastline but were wiped out by overfishing and pollution.

Beyond biodiversity, oysters can help clean water and even capture carbon. If successful, the project could act as a blueprint for restoring marine ecosystems across the UK and beyond!

gwr launches ‘sustainable’ travel guides for the south west 🚆

Great Western Railway has launched a new platform featuring curated two-day travel routes across the South West, designed to help people explore UNESCO sites more sustainably.

The guides link destinations like Bath and Bristol, encouraging rail travel and low-carbon tourism, with built-in itineraries and local recommendations. Might take a look!

fashion

lululemon: not so clean girl?

Texas authorities are examining whether Lululemon used PFAS “forever chemicals” in its clothing, and whether its clean, wellness-led branding actually lines up with what’s been going on behind the scenes. Yikes.

PFAS are known for persisting in the body and environment, and are being phased out in more and more places. Lululemon says it stopped using them in 2024 and that its products meet safety standards.

It just makes you feel a bit frustrated as a shopper. Between the pricing and the branding, you can see why people thought they were buying something better. Something safer.

depop x euphoria???

I swear I’m a Vinted loyalist… but this might tempt me back! Depop has officially partnered with HBO Max for Euphoria Season 3, with the show’s stylist curating Depop edits inspired by each character. The big downside? Only available in the US and Australia for now.

Is this the future of fashion? I already love when eBay does this with Love Island, so I’m giddy to see it spread!

The rest bitesized:

• Odd dystopian story of the day… Allbirds shares jumped 373% after the struggling eco sneaker brand announced it would pivot to AI compute infrastructure. Yup, that feels like a summation of how 2026 feels. Read more here.

• Louis Vuitton showcased a plant-based faux fur vest at Paris Fashion Week, made from materials like nettles, flax, and hemp. It’s the first LVMH brand to explore this space, which sounds promising. However, (big however!!) the brand still uses animal fur, even as others phase it out. Fingers crossed this is the start of a big change.

• Charity Super.Mkt, the “department store for second-hand style”, is expanding with a new warehouse and pop-up space at the O2 Centre on Finchley Road. The site will also act as a drop-off point for good quality donations, helping feed the resale loop.

• Visa has ended its sponsorship of Milan Fashion Week due to its continued use of fur, becoming the third major partner to walk away after activist pressure. Campaigners have been targeting sponsors directly, and - look! - it seems to be working!

beauty

anti-aging? cbaaaa 🫠

Despite what your feed might suggest, most Brits actually aren’t rushing to “fix” their faces! New research shows just 6% are actively trying to slow signs of ageing, with the majority taking a much more chilled approach.

Instead of obsessing over wrinkles, people are prioritising the basics… sleep, diet, and general skincare. Meanwhile, the more intense anti-ageing treatments remain pretty niche. It’s a nice reality check in the face of constant “preventative” messaging online.

Turns out, for most people, ageing isn’t a crisis. It’s just… happening.

the rest bite sized:

• Lush is offering free recovery products to London Marathon finishers on 26 April! It’s available at selected stores including Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Victoria, and Paddington. Runners can pick up a magnesium massage balm or a cooling shower jelly designed for post-race recovery… all we have to do is show off our medal. Well, that’s something to help me get over the finish line!

• Cruelty-free brand Ilia Beauty has launched at Liberty, marking its latest move in the UK market. After first arriving via Sephora in 2022 and expanding into Space NK in 2024, the brand is continuing its steady retail rollout.

politics

1 million signatures push eu to review israel agreement ✊

More than one million (!!) Europeans have signed a petition urging the EU to suspend its trade deal with Israel, meaning officials must now formally assess it. The campaign reached the threshold in record time and across enough member states to trigger a response.

Meanwhile here in the UK, Green party leader Zack Polanski has called on the Labour government to suspend the UK-Israel trade deal in response to its recent attacks against civilians in Lebanon.

flotilla sets sail for gaza (again)⛵

Thousands of activists, medics, and volunteers from around the world have joined a flotilla heading towards Gaza, aiming to deliver vital aid and challenge the blockade!

The mission brings together over 70 boats carrying supplies for civilians facing ongoing shortages. It’s a powerful show of international solidarity and - for many involved - it’s about stepping in where political action has failed.

Thanks so much for reading! I’m officially less than two weeks away from running the London Marathon! I’m running for Veganuary - the charity that’s genuinely transformed what it means to be vegan in the UK. They’ve made it easier, more accessible, and honestly just more fun… whilst saving countless animals by keeping them off of plates.

They’re now taking the campaign global, so if you’re able to support their work (and me getting round 26.2 miles), I’d really appreciate a donation, just click here. TYSM x

Welcome back to Susty Scoops, your weekly round-up of the greener stories that may have slipped you by!

big tech

your old kindle might be about to stop working ⚡

Amazon is officially phasing out support for older Kindles, meaning some of the earliest models (released during or before 2012) will no longer be able to download new books from May. Fab…

So if you’re being pushed into a new device anyway, it might be worth switching things up. When I asked my audience for recs last year, Kobo came up again and again - perfect if you’re trying to de-Amazon your life.

openai pauses uk ai data centre plans!!

Plans for a major UK AI data centre have been put on hold, with OpenAI stepping back from its proposed “Stargate UK” project. They’re blaming rising energy costs and regulatory hurdles.

Phew! Maybe we can take a step back and think - at a time when reliance on US tech is already dangerously shaping so much from infrastructure to culture - that this is one u-turn we could all get behind!

eco

recycling rules *finally* got a lot simpler ♻️

Recycling in England has always been a bit of a postcode lottery… what’s recyclable in one area suddenly isn’t in another. WELL, that’s (finally) changing.

New rules are being rolled out to standardise collections, so households follow clearer, more consistent guidelines on what goes where. For example, in Surrey, items being added to recycling now includes cartons, empty aerosol cans, foil, and squeezy metal and plastic tubes (eg for purée or toothpaste). Hallelujah(!) Familiarise yourself with the standard here.

tap-and-go travel is expanding across england 🚆

Tap-and-go travel could soon be rolling out across more of England, as the government pushes for a more joined-up transport system. The plan is to give local areas the tools to replicate systems already working in places like London, where you can move between buses, trains and trams with a single tap.

There’s also talk of real-time bus tracking via Google Maps and a more unified approach to parking apps! Bring it on!

the uk is going big on solar ☀️

The government has just approved its largest solar farm to date and it’s set to power around 180,000 homes when it goes live!! It’s a major step towards cleaner, homegrown energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels

animal rights

protecting hedgehogs from robot lawnmowers 🦔

As tech creeps further into our gardens, it turns out we’ve accidentally created a new threat for hedgehogs! German mayors are now calling for a ban on night-time robot lawnmower use after reports of small nocturnal animals being injured or killed in the dark.

Meanwhile researchers (including the Uni of Oxford) are testing ways to make mowers safer, from ultrasonic warnings to “hedgehog-friendly” certifications. Something to think about before you start upgrading your garden tools!

step away from the bird feeders 🚨

Yup! It’s time to put away the bird feeders! The RSPB is urging people to pause feeding during spring and summer, when feeders can spread disease more easily. Parasites like trichomonosis thrive in these conditions, contributing to sharp declines in some common garden birds.

It’s not forever, and if you hate the thought of doing nothing… Cleaning feeders, offering small amounts, and focusing on natural habitats can still help!

vegan chairty helps close pig farm!! 🐷

After multiple investigations by vegan charity Viva! which exposed horrific conditions inside Hogwood Farm, the site is now shutting down its pig operation!! Exposed footage led to dropped supermarket contracts, lost certifications, and mounting pressure that the business ultimately couldn’t outlast.

So next time someone says vegan activists don’t achieve anything, there’s at least one ex-farm that will disagree!

greyhound racing is losing track! 🐕

Scotland and Wales have both moved to ban greyhound racing!! Campaigners have spent yeeears exposing injuries, deaths, and the reality behind the tracks… and it’s finally becoming policy!

Thousands of dogs have been harmed over the years, and public sentiment has clearly shifted! It’s not gone everywhere just yet (hi England, you’re up!!), but this absolutely feels like momentum.

ricky gervais honoured for animal advocacy 🏆

Ricky Gervais has been awarded the Jane Goodall Award for Unwavering Advocacy for Animals, recognising years of speaking up, donating, and consistently backing animal causes.

He’s raised millions for charities, including £2.5 million from his latest tour, but still described his efforts as “I do a bit. I tweet, I sign petitions, I give a bit of cash.” He’s not wrong! But we’re grateful he does it.

fashion & beauty

diptyque cuts waste with new refill system 🕯️

I don’t shop Diptyque (not vegan, not cruelty-free), but I can still appreciate this! From autumn 2026, the brand is rolling out refillable versions of its classic candles, designed to reuse the glass vessel and cut down on waste.

The refills come in recyclable, bio-based packaging, and the updated jars are lighter too. Over time, this could reduce the carbon footprint by around 22%!

i hope you’re wearing SPF everyday…

Sad to report that only 1 in 6 Brits wear SPF daily! This includes many still treating it as a “sun’s out” step rather than a year-round essential. Despite better awareness, over three-quarters only use it seasonally, and some are even convinced it’s a scam! So, please… consider this your reminder to start wearing it rain or shine. UV doesn’t take days off.

If you’re after a vegan and cruelty-free option, you can steal my current go-to: Dr Paw Paw (yes, the lip balm brand) now does a fragrance-free SPF50 day cream. Easy, no excuses. (affiliate link)

transparency is coming for your wardrobe

A new feature from France’s Clear Fashion app now lets shoppers scan tens of thousands of garments to instantly see their environmental impact score. It’s still early, but once shoppers can access this kind of information on the spot… it can help shape the industry for the better!

the rest bitesized:

• Etsy will officially launch its new fur-free policy starting August 2026! A move that helps leave fur in the past where it belongs.

• Vinted has reportedly made 1.1 billion euros ($1.28 billion) in revenue in 2025, a 38% increase on ⁠the previous year! It’s a big victory for secondhand fashion! This follows its expanse into categories like electronics and homeware, as well as launching into three new countries.

community

• Less “crackdown”, more community? London is set to fund late-night youth clubs in every borough, backed by a £30m investment aimed at giving young people safe spaces, support, and somewhere to actually go. More of this across the UK please!

• London is pushing back on online disinformation! Sadiq Khan has called for stronger action against social media platforms, warning that false narratives are undermining trust and fuelling division. This comes as data shows a major increase in misleading content about the city, particularly around crime rates and migration, with some linked to international sources and AI-generated accounts.

food

new research backs vegan diets for the planet 🌍

Your plate has a carbon footprint btw. And according to new research? Switching to a plant-based diet could cut it by around 35%!!

Most of that impact comes from removing meat and dairy, which are some of the most emissions-intensive foods to produce. The study also found that a plant-based shift reduced the total energy needed across the food system, from production to processing.

I know it’s easy to think of climate impact in terms of flights or cars, but food is a daily decision… so small changes that become habits build up fast!

is THIS the vegan steak we’ve been waiting for? 🥩

UK brand THIS has just launched a plant-based fillet steak, aiming to bring a more premium, steak-like experience to the meat-free aisle.

It’s marinated in a peppercorn flavour and designed to deliver that proper sear, juicy texture, and “fibrous bite” you’d expect from a real steak. Each fillet packs a whopping 31g of protein too.

You’ll find it in Tesco first (from 13 April) followed by Asda, Sainos and Waitrose at later dates. Gimme!

vegan cheese might be due a glow up… 🧀

Someone send the researchers at Heriot-Watt University flowers! Bc they might have developed a new method that could improve both the health profile and meltability of vegan cheese!!

Yup, instead of relying on coconut or palm oil, they’re using a process called oleogelation to turn plant oils into a semi-solid structure. The result? A cheese that holds its shape but also melts properly… and with far less saturated fat.

It’s still early (lab stage), so let’s all cross our fingers tight for this one!

the easiest way to eat more fibre? 🌱

It might just be swapping out processed meat! New studies from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that replacing processed meat with plant-based alternatives can increase fibre intake, while also lowering saturated fat and salt.

Considering most people in the UK aren’t getting enough fibre, that’s a pretty simple win!

the gate is doing cinco de mayo deals 🌮

If you’re looking for plans this weekend… The Gate (right behind the Hammersmith Apollo) is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with £8 margaritas and 3 tacos for £15.

25k on youtube! 🎉

Finally, a lil personal celebration… I hit 25k subscribers on YouTube this month!!

So tysm if you’re new here, or if you’ve been watching over the years. I’ve really loved leaning into long-form content lately (both here and on YT), where you can actually take up more than 8 seconds and talk with a bit of thought, care and nuance.

So if you fancy some low-pressure, low-waste food vlogs or a gentle no-buy challenge like Project Pan, come join me over there 💚

Okay, that’s it - hope you don’t mind an evening notification! Thanks for the catch up and have a lovely weekend!

Nicole x

i’m running for veganuary!! 🏃🏻‍♀️

Quick nudge before we get into everything else: I can officially say I’m running the London Marathon this month!!

A few of you asked for a post-payday reminder… so here it is. If you’re grateful for better vegan options and less animals on plates - that’s Veganuary!

I’d really appreciate your support 💚

Donate here. Thank you!

food

the marmite sale no one wants 🇺🇸 (plus swaps)

Marmite is being sold in a £50bn deal, moving from Unilever to McCormick & Company. And while I don’t buy Unilever anyway, this still feels… bleak. There’s already talk of boycotts, whether it’s fear of recipe changes or just frustration at more US ownership of British staples. Even my vegan social feeds this Easter have been full of people whinging about how the Americans ruined Cadburys.

So if you’re looking to make a swap, remember Marmite is just yeast extract. Brands like Meridian do alternatives, and most supermarkets have their own versions too. Your toast will survive!

being vegan *can* strain relationships

A study from Concordia University has confirmed that veganism can create real tension in relationships - especially around shared meals and social norms. Sadly, some participants even said the stress led them to step away from veganism altogether!

They found that, to manage tensions, vegans often develop coping strategies. Eg: bringing their own food, avoiding certain situations, or adapting their behaviour to keep things smooth. So, yeah, the challenge of veganism isn’t always personal discipline but navigating a world where your values don’t quite match the norm.

It helps show why campaigns like Veganuary are so important: by getting more vegan options in restaurants and supermarkets, they make veganism less of a statement and more of a standard.

can climate credentials save vegan alternatives? 🍔

Beyond Meat just got “climate solution” status for its burger and steak, meaning they cut emissions by at least 50% vs beef and meet strict environmental standards. The certification, from the Exponential Roadmap Initiative and Oxford Net Zero, is designed to highlight genuinely low-carbon products. They’re the first plant-based meats to qualify… hopefully many more to follow!

the rest bite sized:

• A Tesco in Orkney accidentally ordered 38,000 bananas (oops!) after a mix-up between kilos and boxes. Did they all end up in the bin? No! They managed to distribute the spare banana boxes to community groups and schools across the area. Lovely!

• Plates London has retained its Michelin star for 2026. Still one of only a handful of fully plant-based restaurants globally to hold one!

• Wildtype has launched the world’s first cultivated salmon in restaurants, approved by the FDA. It’s real salmon cells grown in a lab, currently served in select spots like Portland and San Francisco. Sure, it’s pricey, it’s limited, but it’s also a glimpse at where seafood could be heading!

• A global move towards plant-based diets could cut agricultural labour by up to 28% suggests research from the University of Oxford. Less demand for animal farming, more for crops and food services. Big shift… but ofc only works if farmers are supported through it.

• A new vegan kebab spot has landed in Edinburgh, with Unity Doner teaming up with Considerit. Think spit-cooked vegan doner, loaded sides, and desserts all in one stop. Sounds delish!

• If you’ve been looking for vegan creatine… Form (best known for their vegan protein powders - I have a couple in my cupboard!) have just launched Form’s Creatine which delivers 5g of 100% pure creatine per serving. Take a look here. (affiliate link)

travel

could fuel rations mean free public transport?

Perhaps! The global oil squeeze is pushing fuel prices up and forcing governments to get creative. In parts of Australia, public transport has been made completely free to get people out of cars (Keir Starmer, take note!)

Elsewhere, the measures are a bit more intense. Sri Lanka has declared Wednesdays a public holiday for schools and government offices to cut fuel use, meanwhile Slovenia has become the first EU country to introduce fuel rationing.

It’s easy to feel like the UK is dragging it’s feet. Personally I’d love to see us get started with free public transport!

ferry to norway could be back after 18 years!

A proposed ferry between Newcastle and Bergen could make seeing the northern lights a little greener! The route hasn’t run since 2008, but there’s growing interest in bringing it back. It would mean a slower, lower-carbon way to reach Norway’s iconic landscapes. Sounds good to me, bring it back!

fashion & beauty

did you know selfridges does a car boot? 🛍️

@abigalemasters1I attended the king of all car boots come with me to the Selfridges car boot sale!! @selfridgesuk @Selfridges #carbootsale#carbootsale #thrifting #Vlog #spendthedaywithme

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Yup. Once a year, Selfridges hosts a charity car boot sale, with up to 75% off brands like Jimmy Choo and Rixo. It’s hosted by Alex Eagle, powered by Reselfridges and its returning to the Selfridges car park on Saturday 16 May.

Not entirely sure what to expect? Nope, nor was I! But after a bit of research (okay, a tiktok vlog) it looks like a slightly chaotic designer treasure hunt. If you’re curious, you can grab tickets here. 100% of proceeds go to Women for Women International!

italy cracks down on skincare marketing to minors

Italian authorities are investigating Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics amid concerns that beauty marketing may be fuelling “cosmeticorexia” - aka an obsession with skincare among young girls. Driven by TikTok and influencer culture, preteens are increasingly using serums and anti-ageing products designed for adults.

Authorities are questioning whether marketing strategies are subtly targeting minors. We’ve all seen brands inching towards this younger demographic, and it’s felt a bit uncomfortable for a while. So it’s good to see some accountability starting to come into play!

boots is using your data for better offers

Boots is updating its Advantage Card to offer more personalised deals, so you can expect offers that actually reflect what you buy, rather than random brands you’ll never touch. Usually I side-eye this level of data use… but if it means fewer irrelevant deals and more discounts on my cruelty-free favourites? I’m less mad. Also, don’t forget you can recycle your beauty empties at Boots to build up points too!

the rest:

• Cream Dream is hosting a pop-up with Lush tomorrow (12:00–14:30). You can shop the limited-edition “there will be sun” soap, with 75% of proceeds going to organisations supporting children in Ukraine. Bonus: you’ll get a free Ukrainian cookie (“Horyshok”) with your purchase. Sweet treat, good cause, be there!

• Second hand keeps growing! Online resale platform ThredUp says the global second-hand market is set to hit $393 billion by 2030, making up around 10% of all fashion spending!

• Vivobarefoot has partnered with Letters Live for a one-night show at the Royal Albert Hall on 22 April (aka Earth Day), supporting Greenpeace. Expect words, performances, and a portion of profits going to environmental work. Tickets here if you fancy something a bit different.

eco

• Thanks to renewables, the UK avoided £1bn (!!) in gas imports in March according to Carbon Brief. Wind was up 38% year-on-year (not surprising… it’s been wild out there), and solar nearly matched last year’s unusually sunny spring.

• Over 1.3 million tonnes of fish have been caught inside UK marine protected areas since 2020, according to Greenpeace UK. Despite the name, many still allow industrial fishing, including destructive trawling. Safe to say, it exposes a pretty glaring gap between policy and reality… protection on paper, not in practice.

• Scientists at Kyushu University have developed a new type of solar cell that captures energy usually lost as heat, making panels far more efficient. It’s still early, but it’s another sign that solar is continually levelling up… faster, cheaper, and more powerful than ever.

politics

half a million march against the far right

It can sometimes feel like we’re being slowly convinced that Nigel Farage becoming PM is inevitable. It is not.

Last weekend, we had around half a million people (!!) marching through London to protest the rise of the far right. That’s not a small, fringe group! That’s a huge, visible show of resistance.

Just remember: what feels loud online isn’t always the majority… these days, you can’t even guarantee it’s real!

petition: israel’s new death penalty law

This week, Israel has passed the death penalty solely for Palestinians with Ben Gvir popping champagne to celebrate. I don’t need to tell you how inhumane this all is.

Please take a couple mins and join me in writing to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to demand sanctions on Israel.

animals

um animal abusers can still get pets… what?

The internet’s favourite cleaning lady Bex (famous for her free deep cleans) has started a petition to ‘make a public animal abuser register & automatically ban ownership.’

Currently, bans are left to a judge’s discretion and there’s no central record, allowing abusers to keep acquiring animals. This petition aims to close that gap and prevent cycles of cruelty before they continue. It’s a simple change that could have a huge impact.

Please sign here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/759783

a viral rescue turned to stone

If you need a bit of hope in humanity, this got me tearing up this week. In Almaty, a sculpture now honours a viral rescue where strangers formed a human chain to save a dog and the man rescuing it. A small moment, remembered forever. Watch here:

That’s everything for this week! Hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend… ideally with some sunshine, definitely with some hot cross buns!

i’m running for veganuary!! 🏃🏻‍♀️

Starting off with a slightly shameless plea… it’s one month until the London Marathon (!!)

I’ve been training for the past few months (with a couple of 3-hour runs coming up soon… rip), and I’m fundraising for Veganuary! They’re an incredible charity that’s genuinely transformed veganism in the UK and beyond.

They’ve not only made it easier to be vegan (eg near every chain having options now), but by doing that, they’re helping more people reduce animal products and ultimately keeping more animals off plates.

So whether you love this newsletter, you’re grateful for the vegan sausage roll, or you want to help Veganuary expand even further globally (they ran campaigns across the US, India, Germany, Spain and Latin America in 2025!), any donation would mean a lot - thank you!!

Donate here 💚

food

another vegan restaurant stops being vegan… 🙄

Normally I’d be thrilled to hear there’s a new vegetarian restaurant coming Shoreditch… So why does it feel disappointing when I hear it’s Holy Carrot?

Because this isn’t just any restaurant. They’ve built their reputation as a vegan space. So when dairy and eggs appear on the menu, it’s not an expansion, it’s a shift in values.

Not to mention, one thing I love about being at a vegan restaurant is getting to try some really great dairy inspired vegan recipes. But now anything creamy or cheesy is exclusively for the veggies. Great. Tofu and ragu for us I guess.

Yes, vegetarian restaurants are still a step up from meat-heavy menus. But when a vegan brand makes that move? That’s not progress, it’s compromise at the expense of animals from those that know better.

Idk. Maybe it’s practical. Maybe it’s business. But it still feels a bit disappointing.

another vegan brand gets absorbed by big dairy… 🐄

Danone is buying Huel for around €1 billion(!!) and while that’s undeniably huge for the plant-based space, it also raises a slightly uncomfortable question: what happens when vegan brands become part of big dairy??

It’s very frustrating for those of us wanting to enjoy vegan products without lining the pockets of those in the dairy industry.

One silver lining though? If companies like Danone are investing heavily in plant-based, they have far less incentive to undermine it. Owning part of the dairy-free category means benefiting from its growth. That could translate into fewer roadblocks and less pushback on things like labelling (eg banning vegan products from using ‘milk’).

So whether that feels like progress or compromise probably depends on your perspective. For what it’s worth, I’m somewhere in the middle on this occasion.

billie eilish’s mum is launching a climate food series!! 🌯

A new series called Climate Kitchen is bringing plant-based cooking into the mainstream, without the usual pressure or preachiness. It’s created by Maggie Baird (Billie Eilish’s mum), who’s been vegan for decades and now runs a food and climate nonprofit. The focus is on realistic, affordable ways to eat more sustainably, not perfection. Lovely! It’s beginning production this year and is set to air in 2027.

eco

the cost of climate change (it’s huge) 🤑

If you’ve ever wondered what climate damage actually costs, a new study has an answer: about $10 trillion (!!) from United States emissions alone since 1990.

That figure reflects decades of rising temperatures chipping away at global economies, from reduced productivity to increased health pressures. And while some of that damage hits the US itself, poorer countries (of course) have been hit hardest.

It’s not a perfect measure, but it makes one thing very clear: climate change isn’t some distant issue. It’s already shaping economies, widening inequality, and costing the world far more than most people realise.

Now we have the bill, any chance we can get the US to pay up??

national trust calls on us to pressure government 🚨

Yeesh, you know things are bad when the National Trust is sounding the alarm!! They warn that nature in the UK is in freefall: wildlife is declining, rivers are in poor health, and the UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries globally.

Despite strong public support for restoring nature, the government is seen as lagging behind, and even weakening protections in some areas. So the message is simple: if you care, now’s the time to write to your MP and make some noise.

the rest bitesized:

• World Meteorological Organization says Earth’s climate is now more out of balance than ever recorded, with the planet trapping far more heat than it can release. This “energy imbalance” is driving record ocean temperatures, melting ice, and worsening extreme weather. Over 90% of the excess heat is being absorbed by oceans, intensifying storms and sea-level rise. Greenhouse gases from fossil fuels are the main cause, and levels are now the highest in at least 2 million years.

• Scientists also warn that a coming El Niño (a natural climate cycle where parts of the Pacific Ocean become unusually warm) could push global temperatures even higher into 2027.

tui is now selling flight-free holidays!! 🚂

Flight-free holidays are no longer niche! Byway has partnered with TUI to bring rail-based trips into high street stores, meaning you can now book a European holiday without flying! It’s a big shift for an industry built around planes, and a sign that lower-carbon travel is becoming more accessible and normalised for everyday travellers.

renewables

The Iran war has basically hit the “fast forward” button on the UK’s clean energy transition. Nothing like a global oil crisis to finally get us prioritising renewables in the way green campaigners have been arguing for for decades??

all new homes in England must have heat pumps and solar panels 🏠

The UK government introduced new rules this week requiring developers to install heat pumps and solar panels in all new homes across England. It’s a direct response to the economic fallout of the Iran conflict, and a pretty good shift in building standards.

solar panel sales are up 50% ☀️

The boss of Octopus Energy says the war has triggered a scramble for ways to cut bills and gain energy independence. In numbers? Solar panel sales are up 50%, heat pumps up 30%, and interest in EVs is climbing too!

Solar is gonna be big, as the government is bringing ‘plug-in’ solar panels to UK shops within months, with retailers like Lidl and Iceland already working to get them on shelves. These should help households significantly cut energy bills without needing a full rooftop installation.

cheaper bills on windy days? about time! 🌬️

When you generate too much power that you can’t store it all, do you A) turn off the wind turbines or B) pass it on cheap to customers?

Until now, the UK has been going with option A. Yup, you read that right. Historic underinvestment in the electricity grid has meant wind farms were literally being paid to turn off on windy days when the network couldn’t handle all the clean power they were producing.

But the government is finally launching a new scheme (mostly for Scotland and East England) that finally goes with option B. Energy companies will be able to offer discounted bills on windy days, rather than wasting all that clean energy. Better late than never…

£1.5bn wind project scrapped over China tensions 🇨🇳

A major renewable energy project has been halted after the UK government refused to back a £1.5bn wind turbine plant by Chinese firm Ming Yang for security reasons. Fair enough.

UK reopens CO₂ plant 🏭

So last May, the UK struck a trade deal with the US that removed tariffs on American ethanol imports. Cheaper US ethanol edged out domestic production, so the Ensus plant in Teesside was shut down in September. But now? With the supply chain chaos, the government is investing £100m to reopen it bc CO₂ is essential for food production, hospitals, and critical industries.

Idk why we shut it down in the first place? For Teesside, that means protecting around 100 direct jobs. Plus local production means shorter supply chains, lower transport emissions, more resilience, and money staying in the UK economy instead of shipping ethanol across the Atlantic.

animal rights

vet fees are finally getting capped 🐶

The UK’s competition watchdog is capping vet prescription fees and forcing practices to publish prices after finding costs have been rising at nearly twice (!!) inflation. Vets must now provide written estimates for treatments over £500 and make ownership clear.

Considering many pet owners could have been overpaying for long-term medication by £200+ a year - possibly pricing people out of caring for their pets - it’s good to see the government step in!

beauty

sephora’s new chat bot… 💄

In this week’s episode of ‘sit back and watch AI take over our lives’... Sephora’s dropped a ChatGPT app that lets you browse beauty products, get recommendations, and (soon) buy stuff without ever leaving the chat. You can link your account so the AI pulls from your purchase history for bespoke advice.

Handy? Maybe. Look, there’s a chance this could actually match people with products that work for them - aka less trial and error, less wasted products. But I can’t help but wonder if it’ll actually increase overconsumption and serve echo chambers that just keep feeding you the same style of products without helping you discover what might genuinely be better for your skin.

Personally? I’ll take a real human who can actually look at my face and tell me what’s going on, thanks.

the rest bite sized..

• Henkel announced they’re buying Olaplex for $1.4 billion, with the deal closing mid-2026. Whilst Olaplex themselves will probably remain cruelty-free, it’s worth noting that Henkel are not a cruelty-free parent company. So if that bothers you (like it does me), that’s Olaplex off the list! </3

• Lush Glasgow is making big losses. Their flagship Buchanan Street store (Scotland’s largest) has 16 employees at risk of redundancy after the store haemorrhaged £1.1 million in three years. They’re looking at another £700,000 loss this year and desperately need to cut costs. It’s sad to see such a prominent store underperforming, especially when it leads to job losses!

fashion

m&s goes faster on fashion 😭

M&S is going from fast fashion to faster fashion by ditching traditional seasonal drops to get “catwalk looks” to shoppers faster. They’re swapping out four seasons for monthly drops and aiming to boost online sales to 50% of fashion revenue. Cool strategy for profits, less cool for a planet already drowning in textile waste and overproduction.

find wuka in tesco🩸

WUKA just scaled its Tesco partnership from under 300 stores to over 1,800, including Tesco Express locations! It’s the first time reusable period pants hit UK convenience stores at scale. They’ve launched an exclusive £9.95 product to make sustainable period care more accessible beyond specialty shopping trips.

another fashion week bans fur! 🐅

Iceland Fashion Week has banned fur!! This comes after undercover footage from the country’s first fur farm investigation aired on national TV, showing mink with open wounds, dead animals in cages, and severe distress. The September event joins Copenhagen, London, and New York in going fur-free, meanwhile animal welfare groups push for a complete fur farming ban.

And that's a wrap! If you thought you’d scroll back up to drop me a marathon donation, don’t worry - here’s another link. Thank you!!!

Nicole x

eco

the greens want an economy built around wellbeing 🧘🏻‍♀️

Zack Polanski says the Greens want to move away from GDP targets and build economic policy around wellbeing instead! What does that mean? Well, prioritising things like stronger public services, lower inequality, cheaper essentials and a healthier planet, rather than obsessing over whether the economy is technically “growing”.

Makes sense to me! The UK is one of the richest countries on earth, yet 4.5 million children are living in poverty, and most of those children have at least one working parent. If that’s what a “successful economy” looks like, methinks it’s time for a new definition.

north sea drilling won’t make energy cheap again

If you’ve heard politicians suggest more North Sea drilling will bring down your bills, a new analysis says not by much. Even under a maximum drilling scenario, the savings to households would be pretty limited because oil and gas prices are set internationally, not just by what we pull out of UK waters. In other words, more drilling doesn’t protect us from global fossil fuel chaos. Reducing dependence on gas does.

why gas still has too much power over your energy bill

A new report says UK households could save up to £203 a year (!!) if gas stopped setting the price of electricity so often. Even though gas only produces about a quarter of the UK’s electricity, it still drives prices most of the time, which is a huuuge reason bills stay vulnerable to global fossil fuel drama. The proposed fix is pretty simple: stop letting gas lead the way and treat it more like backup when renewables can’t meet demand.

The rest bite sized:

• About 7% of England’s land will need to shift towards nature restoration, forests and renewables if the UK wants to hit its green targets, according to new government land-use data.

• Big Oil seems to have swapped greenwashing for “energy security”. Instead of pretending to be climate-friendly, fossil fuel giants are now arguing oil and gas are simply necessary, reliable and realistic. Awkward timing really, given recent wars and supply shocks have done a pretty good job of showing the opposite: fossil fuel dependence creates vulnerability, not stability.

• The UK is planning to cut climate aid to poorer countries by about 14%, as part of wider aid cuts. Ministers say the money needs to be “refocused”, but climate breakdown, ecosystem collapse and instability overseas do not stay neatly overseas.

beauty & fashion

the leaping bunny is getting a rebrand! 🐇

It’s the end of an era for one of beauty’s most recognisable cruelty-free symbols. Cruelty Free International has officially unveiled a new logo to replace the iconic Leaping Bunny. While the old bunny was beloved, it also made it easy for uncertified brands to use rabbit clipart and give the impression they’d passed proper third-party checks. The new logo should make certified cruelty-free products easier to spot, while putting more pressure on brands to back up their claims properly.

lush stands up for migrants 🛁

In a new nationwide campaign, Lush is teaming up with Migrants’ Rights Network to push back against anti-migrant narratives. Running from 16 to 30 March in all 101 UK stores, the campaign includes window displays, a free educational booklet and a fundraising bath bomb called Hand of Friendship. The message is simple: migrants are being unfairly blamed for crises caused by things like NHS underfunding, the housing crisis and wealth inequality. And people wonder why I shop there so much??

fur is officially off the emmys red carpet 🐅

The Emmy Awards are officially going fur-free, becoming the first major awards show to ban animal fur from the red carpet!! The policy will cover both the Creative Arts Emmys and the Primetime Emmys from this September, with guests told ahead of time and denied entry in fur unless it’s removed. It’s quite surreal to think how far this has come, especially if you remember the 90s and 00s when anti-fur activists had to fight (aka throw buckets of red paint) to make the issue impossible to ignore!

your old perfume bottles could be worth 15% off! 💸

The Perfume Shop is encouraging shoppers to bring back their empty fragrance bottles as part of The Great British Beauty Clean Up 2026. Customers who return empties in store can get 15% off a same-day purchase, which feels like a pretty decent incentive tbf. The move comes as the retailer says UK households throw away an estimated 59 million perfume and aftershave bottles every year. It’s also expanding its refillable fragrance range!

The rest bitesized..

• Glossier is shutting down nine of its 12 stores as part of a bigger strategy reset under new CEO Colin Walsh. Over the next two and a half years, only its London, New York and Los Angeles flagships will remain. The brand is also slimming down its product range to focus more heavily on hero products and fragrance.

• FatFace is pushing climate action deeper into its supply chain with a new supplier agreement tied to its net zero plan. Brands that sign up will need to measure emissions, create transition plans and report back on progress. In return, they could get preferred partner status and support for decarbonisation projects. Two major Indian suppliers have already joined.

• Harrods has launched a new circular fashion scheme with charity retailer Traid to keep surplus clothing and materials out of landfill. Unused items will be collected and either reused, repurposed or redistributed instead. The initiative also includes staff donations, volunteering and workshops, all as part of Harrods’ wider push to make circularity more practical.

travel

the uk’s getting another vegan hotel! 🌳

Ffarm Hall, a historic manor house in North Wales, is set to open in May and is already taking bookings. Guests can expect plant-based dining, vegan toiletries, dog-friendly rooms and a countryside escape with a more ethical twist. It’s the sister hotel to Beck Hall in Yorkshire, which became England’s first fully plant-based hotel, so there’s already a solid blueprint behind it.

food

what if the cost of living crisis starts in the supermarket? 🛒

A new Good Food Bill briefing makes the case that the cost of living crisis doesn’t just begin with rents and energy bills, but with what’s on supermarket shelves too. Healthy food is getting more expensive faster than unhealthy food, pushing people towards worse diets and all the long-term costs that come with them. One suggested fix is making more fruit and veg available loose rather than wrapped in plastic, helping people buy only what they need while cutting packaging and food waste too.

meat and dairy told to “control the narrative” on climate 🥩

A new report has revealed how meat and dairy industry figures were reportedly told to “control the narrative” on climate, treating the crisis as a PR challenge rather than a scientific and political one. The findings suggest a coordinated effort to protect production, discredit independent research and keep food system reform off the agenda. It’s hardly surprising in an economy that so often rewards profit over honesty, science and public wellbeing, but it’s a pretty grim reminder of what we’re up against.

how uk hospitals cut food emissions by 22%... 🏥

‘You can’t force us to go vegan!’ whinge meat eaters everywhere. Well, no, we don’t need to. Across 35 UK hospitals, plant-based meals were made the default, while animal-based options stayed available if patients wanted them. The result was a 22% drop in food-related emissions(!!) plus less meat served overall and a big rise in plant protein. Basically, it’s a v strong case for changing systems rather than relying on individual willpower alone. Let’s get to it!

plant-based is entering its authentic era 🥕

A new 2026 trend report says plant-based is moving into its “authentic” era, with consumers wanting less mimicry and more natural ingredients, cleaner labels and holistic health benefits. Brands are being encouraged to focus on plants in their own right rather than always trying to make them behave like meat. Fair enough, but I’m not fully dumping the old model just yet. I still love fake meat, and in moderation I think it’s genuinely useful, accessible and a lot less sinister than people make out.

The rest bite sized…

• Beyond Meat’s CEO has admitted that “it’s just not the moment for plant-based meat” after the company’s recent rebrand to Beyond The Plant Protein Company. He says the sector is in a “period of confusion” around plant-based proteins, which is… fair. Bit grim to hear out loud though.

• Vegan bodybuilder Joe DeMarco has set a new Guinness World Record at 61, completing 602 toes to bar in one hour. The move is a brutal gymnastics/CrossFit-style exercise, so this is wildly impressive at any age, never mind 61!

• Cultivated meat could reach UK plates by 2027, according to the Food Standards Agency, which is already assessing four applications. It’s one of several food technologies the regulator sees as part of a more resilient future food system, especially with climate shocks and supply chain disruption looming.

• A small new study found that vegans had the strongest NAD+/NADH ratio (aka a biomarker linked to cellular ageing and energy production) compared with vegetarians, omnivores and low-carb high-fat eaters. Interesting, yes. Definitive proof that vegans age slower? Not quite. But we’ll take the win!

• UK shoppers are buying less nitrite-cured bacon, with sales down £18.7 million in just 12 weeks as cancer concerns grow. Slightly less encouraging: nitrite-free bacon is rising instead. Still, with processed meat classed by the WHO as a Group 1 carcinogen, pressure is clearly building for stronger warnings and a nitrite phase-out.

• If your favourite Easter egg looks smaller this year, you’re probably not imagining it. Which? says many Easter eggs have been hit by shrinkflation, with smaller sizes and price hikes of up to 40%. Behind it all are soaring cocoa costs, driven partly by poor harvests in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire… and yes, the climate crisis is part of that story too.

That’s all! If you enjoyed this edition, feel free to share it with a friend who loves a good climate rant or appreciates a cruelty-free beauty update! Chat again next week,
Nicole x

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Sure, they’ve had controversies over the years. But at heart, Lush is built on activism and they’ve never been shy about it.

Which is why this has been bothering me…

Last month, during Veganuary, Lush launched four new cleansers. Not one of them was vegan. Their recently relaunched foundation? Only nine out of twelve shades are vegan. Tough luck if you’re pale. What’s going on???

In this post we’re gonna talk about food, beauty, the vegan backlash and how even Lush is taking note…

things are a little hostile for us

As every vegan knows, the world has become a bit more hostile to us lately. It’s arguably a trend.

Our food gets branded “unnatural” and “ultra-processed”, while carcinogenic UPF meats seem to get a free pass. Carnivore diets are having a moment. People are rubbing beef tallow on their skin. A disregard for animals has somehow become a flex.

Sure, most people aren’t going fully carnivore. But bits of the ideology are seeping in. Suddenly, it doesn’t matter that plant-based alternatives are better for the environment, better for health, or hold their own on the protein front - if there’s any processing involved, they’re written off. A vegan burger gets treated like it has the nutritional value of a Pringle. It’s baffling.

so what’s this got to do with lush?

I turned up at their showcase last week feeling a little prickly about the winding down of vegan options lately and soon overheard words like “UPF” and “tallow” being thrown around. It was a stark reminder that food influences beauty and every brand - even Lush - has to pay attention.

how food trends shape beauty trends

A lot of people don’t realise just how much food culture shapes beauty. But it always has. When veganism was having its moment, it wasn’t just our lattes switching to oat and almond milk, skincare was doing the same! Oat cleansers, almond oils, even Super Milk products with no dairy in sight. You may have noticed it recently with Matcha first hitting the coffee shops and then the beauty shelves.

So when the world starts craving “natural” again (which increasingly seems to mean “from animals”??) beauty follows. It’s not fair but over the past few years, veganism has been painted as artificial. Ultra-processed. Lab-grown. Unnatural. If you live this lifestyle, you’ve felt it. It’s felt a lot like a smear campaign.

Never mind that vegan diets run through cultures and histories across the world. For many people, it’s still framed as some modern experiment from the last decade. Meanwhile, “ancestral” diets and carnivore aesthetics get positioned as wholesome and authentic. And that’s how we ended up with animal-fat skincare. Yuck.

Thanks for reading this far! In the paid portion of this post, I’m looking into how these new food trends are influencing the shelves at Lush, as well as revealing what their explanations were when I cornered them at a recent showcase.

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trend 1: meat-free labelling 🥲

Sadly, the debate over whether plant-based foods can be called burgers, sausages, etc is here to stay. This was hot in the news late last year and what was the resolution? Well, nothing got decided.

And in 2026, the uncertainty itself is starting to reshape the industry. Brands are trying to future-proof because - let’s be honest - no one wants to be caught out by a sudden naming ban. So we’re already seeing pre-emptive relabelling.

What this means in practice:

• More vague, less intuitive product names

• Ongoing culture-war debates over whether a vegan “sausage” can be a sausage at all

• Less clarity about what a product is actually meant to replace

• Slower uptake from flexitarians

Are brands really relabelling? Yes.

We’ve already seen this play out with Greggs, who recently renamed their iconic Vegan Sausage Roll to the distinctly less elegant Vegan Roll (Pork-Free). Customer services couldn’t confirm the reasoning behind the change (see below), but it’s hard to believe this wasn’t influenced by the looming threat of regulation.

What’s gonna change?

This isn’t our first battle. We’ve already watched “milk” disappear from non-dairy alternatives and (suprisingly!) very few people noticed or stopped buying oat drinks as a result.

Brands will adapt. They always do. Clearer imagery, more obvious flavour cues, transparent packaging - all of it will step in where language is restricted. Until regulators start banning foods from being shaped into disks or cylinders, most of us can still look at a vegan “burger” and know it’s a burger.

Whatever happens, it’s important to remember that this isn’t about protecting consumers. It’s about controlling narratives and if the ban goes ahead, it’s a big win for the meat lobby.

trend 2: protein still making gains 💪🏼

I’m not going to dwell on this too much (because we all already know it!) but yes, the obsession with protein - especially in plant-based food - isn’t going anywhere.

Even in 2026, vegan brands are still having to over-explain protein content just to reassure shoppers that plant-based food is enough. And this year, that messaging is even expanding beyond food and protein shakes into fizzy drinks, with Beyond (formerly Beyond Meat) leading the charge. Not sure if they’ll make it into my fridge, but it’s definitely innovative!

It may be frustrating, but time and time again studies have shown that clearer labelling of protein on plant based alternatives do encourage uptake. A recent University of Cambridge study found that protein is still the single biggest perceived barrier to going meat-free - and that simply highlighting protein content more than doubled (!!) uptake of plant-based options.

So while the endless protein call-outs may be tiring for long-term, ethically motivated vegans (it’s me, hi!), they’re still one of the most effective tools for nudging wider behaviour change. And in a year where veganism is fighting to hold cultural ground, brands are going to keep leaning into whatever works.

trend 3: hot girl fibre 🫘

Beans are getting very fashionable! This year fibre might become one of the most effective ways to move people towards vegan food without even mentioning the word vegan.

The evidence is already stacking up:

• CNN have declared: Protein is so last year. Why fiber is the next big thing.

• Fibremaxxing has already emerged as a growing trend on TikTok, led by Gen Z’s obsession with stomach health.

• Even Coca-Cola’s CEO has said customers might see fibre creep into the company’s drinks this year.

People aren’t chasing fibre because it’s ethical. They’re chasing it because they want to feel better. And while none of this explicitly tells people to go vegan, almost every credible fibre recommendation leads them back to the same place: plants. A win’s a win.

What this looks like in practice:

• Beans, lentils and vegetables being reframed as aspirational, not boring

• More hybrid cooking - aka lentils added to meat dishes, beans blended into sauces, even brands like Richmond adding veg to their vegan sausages (as seen above)

• Restaurants figuring out how to build dishes around beans (à la Zizzi’s Butter Bean Stufato)

• Premium branding around extremely basic foods with high-fibre dips, spreads and snacks entering the mainstream

So no, this isn’t an obviously vegan trend. But fibre-first eating supports veganism without asking people to adopt the label, the identity or the moral debates. Just better digestion, better energy, better food.

side note - cabbage? 🥬

This isn’t one I’d clocked myself, but the Pinterest gods have spoken and apparently cabbage is one of their trend predictions for 2026.

According to Pinterest Predicts, searches are rising for things like cabbage steaks, cabbage dumplings, fermented cabbage and even cabbage-based sauces. The vibe is less boiled dinner, more blistered, crispy, umami-forward veg.

So if your Instagram feed suddenly fills up with charred cabbage and kimchi-adjacent content this year… now you know why.

Thanks for reading this far! In the paid portion of this trend report, I’m unpacking what comes next: how restaurants will continue to degrade vegan options (and the surprising upside of that), how GLP-1 culture has hijacked our January, and whether we’re finally moving back towards respecting ethical choices instead of dismissing everything as “virtue signalling”.

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