The University of Portsmouth is one of the most vegan friendly universities in the UK.
We’re ranked in the Top 10 vegan friendly universities in the UK by Veganuary and we’ve made the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation’s list too.
We’ve seen growing demand for vegetarian and vegan food on campus in recent years, reflecting the plant-powered revolution that’s grown in popularity across the country.
Go vegan, get one free
Currently, around 40% of our Food on Campus menu is plant-based and our stamp-based loyalty scheme encourages staff and students to try veggie and vegan options. For every 6 plant-based meals purchased, you’ll receive a meal for free.
The veggie and vegan options are usually cheaper than their meat alternatives providing an extra incentive to go meat free. We even sell a vegan sausage roll that rivals those on the high street.
All the salad counters across campus are completely vegan and we’ve switched to vegan mayonnaise. What’s more, the ingredients we use on campus are sourced locally to reduce transport-related emissions and we use organic produce wherever possible.
Around 40% of our food menu on campus is plant-based. With our loyalty scheme, you'll receive a free meal for every 6 veggie and vegan meals purchased.
Eat well for the planet
We were one of the first universities to join the Kale Yeah! scheme, set up by the environmental charity Friends of the Earth to combat climate change. The scheme has five levels of accreditation that encourage universities to rebalance dishes, incentivise plant-based eating and commit to promoting sustainability.
Head of Catering Services at the University of Portsmouth, Nick Leach said: “We’ve seen a marked increase in sales of vegetarian and vegan food across campus. The Kale Yeah! scheme is really popular not only with vegetarians and vegans, but also flexitarian students and staff looking to reduce their meat intake. Our catering team are also supplying plant-based menus when catering for large events at the University.”
Globally, meat and dairy production accounts for around 15% of climate-changing emissions. Encouraging sustainable diets and reducing meat consumption therefore plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions. It’s just one of the ways we’re working towards becoming a climate positive university by 2030.
Globally, meat and dairy production accounts for around 15% of climate-changing emissions. Encouraging sustainable diets is just one of the ways we’re working towards becoming a climate positive university by 2030.
Finding vegan food in Portsmouth
And it’s not just the university that’s vegan friendly. There are lots of vegan restaurants and cafes in the city making it easy to adopt a healthy vegan lifestyle in Portsmouth and Southsea.
Megan Cooper, who studies BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, explains more in her blog about how to be vegan at uni.