Health and beauty retailer Superdrug is among the UK businesses which have joined the Veganuary campaign’s Workplace Challenge, encouraging its teams to ‘eat vegan for January’.

Superdrug – which sits alongside 75-plus businesses including Harrods, M&S, Cauldron/Quorn, Higgidy, Action for Children and Aveda Global – says its support for the Workplace Challenge complements its existing support for Veganuary, having run in-store campaign promotions ‘for several years’.

Jo Mackie, customer and people director for Superdrug, comments: “At Superdrug we are so excited to be supporting the Veganuary Workplace Challenge this year. As a business, we care deeply about our continued commitment to initiatives such as Veganuary, our vegan and cruelty-free offering, CSR strategy and being the go-to place on the high street for vegan products. We are pleased that our customers can confidently shop with us for products that are not only high quality but align with their ethics and purchasing priorities.

Today we are proud to say that all our own-brand products are suitable for vegans, and we continue to innovate and expand in this area

“Today we are proud to say that all our own-brand products are suitable for vegans, and we continue to innovate and expand in this area, really making waves in the beauty industry. We are pleased to be a community that champions the belief that delivering accessible retail shouldn’t cost the earth, shown by our Planet pillar forming a key part of our Doing Good Feels Super strategy.

“I hope you’ll dip a toe into trying out a vegan lifestyle for just one month this January – I’m excited to see lots of us supporting this amazing cause!”

In the social care sector, Adept Carehomes is also encouraging its 600 staff and 450 residents to take part. Joe Lock, communities director, says the company ‘wants to show that there are care homes that do cater for alternative diets and take people’s beliefs into consideration’.

“I was horrified to hear recently about some care homes not respecting people’s vegan and vegetarian diets when they have dementia and are feeding them meat. I am an advocate of the vegan way of life and feel it does boost my energy. It can also reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which can be common factors in the elderly. I think it is important that we try new and exciting things and change people’s perceptions. I try to ensure the residents’ lives are exciting and adventurous and I hope that one day someone will do the same for me when I reach their age.”

There are care homes that do cater for alternative diets and take people’s beliefs into consideration

Toni Vernelli, Veganuary’s head of communications, adds: “It’s great to have so many businesses putting their values into action by taking part in Veganuary’s Workplace Challenge. It’s a fun way to unite their teams in a shared experience while demonstrating their commitment to reducing their impact on the planet and improving the health and wellbeing of their employees. With a recent YouGov survey showing that 34% of Brits are interested in trying a vegan/plant-based diet, we’re sure their employees will appreciate this helping hand.”

More information about the Veganuary Workplace Challenge can be found here. 

Veganuary’s first cinema ad, narrated by actor James Cromwell, was premiered in December.