Plant Based for the Planet Challenge

Austin: November 1st – 30th, 2022

1 Month. 1 City. hundreds of Plant-based options.

The City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, Planted Society and 30+ restaurant partners are joining together to bring awareness to the impact that diet has on climate change. As a community, we will incentivize & celebrate choosing plant-based options as a way to lower our collective carbon footprint.

how it works

Vegan Menu Options to Help Save The Planet

Businesses will feature plant-based options and discounts for the month to help encourage customers to choose planet-friendly meals. Research shows that opting for vegan meals can reduce your carbon footprint by over 50%.

a restaurant winner at the end of november

Even better, one restaurant will be voted on by the community for the best vegan option in November. Restaurants can choose to join during the initiative month and still be entered into the contest, too!

A community working together for good

We know that combating the effects of climate change is important to the Austin community. Together, we'll make a big difference by supporting locally-owned and operated businesses who share this value.

Prizes and promotion throughout the challenge

Customers who participate get a chance to win prizes, too! Plus, each restaurant partner will receive tons of promo & customers who use our #atxplanetchallenge hashtag will get shared!

A 2018 Oxford University Study found that the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact is to avoid animal products. This is largely because more than 80% of farmland is dedicated to livestock animals raised for meat and dairy, yet these food products only account for about 18% of calories and 37% of protein consumption.

A 2010 United Nation report stated that a global move to a plant-based diet is necessary to save the world from starvation, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change.
Around 27 percent of all human-related methane emissions come from animal agriculture, and through no fault of their own, cows are by far the biggest contributors. Methane is a powerful climate-altering gas, which over a 20-year period is 84 times as warming as CO2.
In all, 83 percent of all available farmland in the world is used for animal agriculture, but it gives us just 18 percent of our calories.

Our Partnership With The City of Austin & The Office of Sustainability

"The Office of Sustainability, in alignment with the City Council adopted Climate Equity Plan, seeks to incentivize pro-climate, pro-health food choices. We are pleased to be a sponsor this effort to help keep the challenge free and accessible to restaurant partners and the community."

Thank You to Our Sponsors

VegFund is committed to promoting vegan living as fundamentally important in its positive impact on human health and well-being, world hunger, environmental and climate health, efficient use of land and water resources, wildlife and habitats, and as the most effective means to exclude all forms of animal exploitation. Since 2009, they have awarded over $15.7 million in grants to grassroots groups and individuals in 78 countries throughout the world. They provide resources to help advance advocacy efforts in all areas and highlight the work they fund to connect a global community of activists. Learn more HERE.

Austin’s Office of Sustainability was formed in 2010 and manages the Climate Program. They help reduce the City’s carbon footprint, allowing Austin to be more resilient to the effects of climate change. They ensure Austin’s programs run sustainably and include green purchasing, energy conservation, recycling, green building, resource and water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and environmental reporting metrics. And they recognize and support innovative projects that inspire action in areas like air quality, food equity, and climate protection. Learn more HERE.

PRIZE SPONSOR! Cinnaholic is the original, gourmet cinnamon roll bakery in Austin. Their handcrafted cinnamon rolls and desserts are 100% vegan plant-based, and dairy-free. Visit them at 10000 Research Blvd UNIT 136, Austin, TX 78759 and give them a FOLLOW!

PRIZE SPONSOR! Wheatsville Co-op is a full service, natural foods cooperative grocery store, which has been serving the central Austin community since 1976. They are the only retail food cooperative in Texas and have over 24,000 invested owners. Their mission is to create a self-reliant, self-empowering community of people that will grow and promote a transformation of society toward cooperation, justice, and non-exploitation. Learn more about them HERE!

PRIZE SPONSOR! Peace Cheese is a local vegan cheese producer in Austin, TX. Their mission is to seek to provide a delicious dairy free alternative to cow cheese so that more people can go vegan. They are visibly and unapologetically Trans & it’s their hope that trans people, especially trans kids, know that they belong in all spaces including vegan & entrepreneurial ones. Give them a follow HERE!