ProVeg Netherlands has launched a platform detailing the plant-based ambitions and progress of Dutch organisations in key industry sectors – supermarkets, catering, wholesale, chain restaurants and education.
A new online platform has been launched today to help accelerate Dutch society towards more plant-rich diets.
For health, sustainability and animal welfare reasons, the Dutch government, the Dutch Health Council and a large share of Dutch food companies already advocate for a more plant-based diet.
The new platform, Eiwitstand.nl, provides a full overview of the shift towards plant-based proteins in key sectors. ProVeg’s aim is to use the platform to encourage all companies and organisations in the Dutch food sector to explicitly commit to plant-based progress.
Necessary societal shift
Research shows that a majority of Dutch consumers are in favour of this shift towards a more plant-based way of eating. At the time of writing, protein consumption in the Netherlands sits at 60% animal protein, a far cry from the Dutch Health Council’s recommended balance of 40% animal vs 60% plant-based protein.
Martine van Haperen, Food Industry and Food Service Expert at ProVeg Netherlands, said: “Society has become aware that we need a dietary shift towards plant-based proteins. To achieve lasting change, we need to create a “food environment” in which plant-based is the norm. Every day, people make countless decisions about what to eat. Whether they’re shopping, at work, at school, out in a restaurant or looking for a snack on a day out. That is why it’s important that all companies that offer or sell food make plant-based food a priority in their policies and take concrete steps to reduce the consumption of animal proteins.”
Striking differences
Based on online resources and data exchange, ProVeg Netherlands has created the overview on Eiwitstand.nl not just of which goals organisations have set and where they stand, but also of what steps they are taking to achieve a more plant-based protein balance.
Over 60% of organisations are taking steps towards a more plant-based offering, showing that the ‘protein shift’ is firmly on the agenda. What’s striking is that almost all large supermarkets and catering companies have set plant protein targets, compared with 20% of chain restaurants and 0% of Dutch wholesalers.
Marjolein Verkerk, CSR Manager at Jumbo Supermarkets, said: “In line with the Health Council’s recommendations, we’ve set a target of 60% plant-based protein by 2030. That’s why we are honing in on taste, affordability and innovation, to make plant-based eating more accessible to all of our customers. In collaboration with our partners in the supply chain, we’re working towards a ‘food landscape’ that makes plant-based the easy option. But we can’t do this on our own; the entire sector will need to pull their weight. With Eiwitstand.nl, ProVeg is showing how all these Dutch companies are working on their goals.”
The level of commitment within industries can differ greatly. In education, for instance, most universities (71%) have solidified their ambitions in a specific objective, compared to 28% of senior secondary vocational education schools (Dutch ‘mbo’) and 4% of additional higher professional education (Dutch ‘hbo’).
Set goals & work on plant-based progress
The goal of the new platform Eiwitstand.nl is to help companies and organisations accelerate the shift to plant-based diets.
Van Haperen said: “A successful strategy requires a number of key ingredients: commitment to an ambitious goal, specific actions to help achieve that goal and clarity on the progress achieved. Over 60% of the organisations we surveyed are taking specific steps, but so far only 10% of them are currently reporting on their progress. To organisations, knowing where they stand is essential to progress. I expect an increasing number of organisations to start showcasing their commitments on this new platform. It’s for the benefit of all of society.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Platform: www.eiwitstand.nl (there is currently no English-language version of this website)
For media inquiries about the platform, please reach out to [email protected]
For inquiries about ProVeg International, email [email protected]
About the data
All data on www.eiwitstand.nl were compiled by ProVeg Netherlands and based on publicly available resources such as company websites, sustainability reports and trade media. ProVeg has selected 6 relevant sectors of industry (supermarkets, caterers, wholesalers, chain restaurants, leisure companies and higher education). All organisations listed on the platform have been granted the opportunity to verify and/or complete their data on the platform. For organisations that did not respond to ProVeg’s inquiry, we have used the information available in online resources.
About ProVeg Netherlands
ProVeg Netherlands is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
