Kardashian, who has a sizeable 313 million followers on Instagram alone, joined Beyond Meat as the company’s first Chief Taste Consultant.

The partnership will see the A-lister promoting “her favorite Beyond Meat products” with recipes and creative content, according to a press release.

She will also feature in the Beyond Meat newsletter.

“I’ve been focusing on going more plant-based and can tell you that Beyond Meat is my absolute favorite – I love how all their products not only taste amazing but are also good for me and my family,” Kardashian said in a statement. She added that her four children are “obsessed” with her Beyond Beef taco recipe, the Beyond Burger, and Beyond Chicken Tenders.

“As my fans know, my fridge and freezer are fully stocked with Beyond Meat’s products.”

Celebrity influence

Kardashian added that she’s “thrilled” by the collaboration, and “really inspired” by Beyond Meat’s mission.

“[I] love that they are not only making plant-based eating delicious and accessible, but are doing so in a way that benefits both people and the planet,” the media personality said.

“It’s empowering to know that the small changes I’m making for my family, like incorporating more Beyond Meat into our meals, can add up to make a big impact.”

Kardashian joins Shay Mitchell, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, and Liza Koshy as an ambassador of Beyond Meat. The brand, founded in 2009, is now available at roughly 135,000 retail and foodservice outlets in more than 90 countries.

Beyond Meat’s star-studded lineup of celebrity backers is no accident. Besides the additional attention the company undoubtedly receives, research indicates that celebrities and social media can influence what people eat.

A survey conducted earlier this year, commissioned by dairy conglomerate Arla, found that one in three adults make dietary choices based on what they see on social media.

Additionally, a Harvard review published in 2015 looked at the role celebrities play in spotlighting the climate crisis, especially its ties to animal agriculture.

It asserted that “celebrities can help draw attention to an issue and galvanize youth engagement.”

And, that “food is one such area where celebrities can help link the impacts of climate change to our consumption habits.”

The article concluded: “Celebrities can help by relating the causes and impacts of climate change to existing socio-cultural practices, facilitating not only a questioning of cultural values (such as meat and dairy consumption) but simultaneously making the necessary changes to our habits appear more positive, achievable and accessible.”

The post Here’s Why Kim Kardashian Is Now An Ambassador For Beyond Meat appeared first on Plant Based News.

Nike x Eilish

Eilish first joined Nike’s artist roster last year. She kicked off the collaboration with a range of leather-free vegan Air Jordans, featuring her signature slime green color.  

In their latest collaboration, Eilish puts her own unique spin on the iconic Nike Air Force 1s.  

The new sneakers – featuring a neutral mushroom color palette – are made from a synthetic nubuck leather material, derived from 80 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled polyester. 

Similar to past releases, the sneakers channel Eilish’s own oversized aesthetic, featuring chunky mid-foot straps. The collection showcases a total of four chunky straps covering the sneaker’s laces, a look that is inspired by two other Nike staples, the Alpha Force Low and Air Trainer 3.

The sneaker also features a fifth strap that goes around the ankle in the high-top version of the vegan-friendly AF1s.

Eilish’s stick-figure Blohsh logo is displayed on the lace deubrés and the Nike Air logos appear as usual over the tongue and heel. The insoles are made with cork and embossed with lyrics from her song Billie Bossa Nova: “It’s hard to stop it once it starts.”

“The challenge and opportunity with this collection was to respect the originals, but make them my own. It was also important for me to mix in environmentally preferred materials where we could and present them in a way that felt fresh,” Eilish shared in a press release.

New apparel collection

The Nike x Billie collaboration also features a new range of matching mushroom-colored apparel in her signature oversized style.

The clothing range includes a fleece hoodie, t-shirt, and sweatpants, embellished with subtle silicone Billie Ellish graphics and the iconic Nike logo turned on its side, pointing straight upwards.

Cruelty is never in style

Beyond Eilish’s music career, she’s an avid activist working to promote sustainability and veganism. She uses her platform to influence the fashion industry as a whole to recognize that cruelty is never in style. 

PETA has also recognized Eilish’s work, naming her its “Person Of The Year” in 2021. President of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, previously shared: “PETA is happier than ever to celebrate her for seizing every opportunity to point out that vegan fashion and foods are kinder to the animals and the planet we share with them.”

The new Nike x Billie collection is now available on Nike’s website.

The post Billie Eilish’s Latest Collaboration With Nike Features Vegan Air Force 1s appeared first on Plant Based News.

Ryder, who once owned a vegan juice bar in Coggeshall, has TikTok to thank for his rise to fame. Ryder began posting musical covers on the social media platform in March 2020, during the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown.

His covers won the approval of a string of high-profile names including Elton John and Alicia Keys. And by the end of 2020, he was the most-followed UK artist on TikTok. (At the time of writing, Ryder has near to 13 million followers.)

During the pandemic is also when he penned his hit song Space Man, which he performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 – the 66th edition of the competition, which took place on May 14.

There, Ryder topped the jury vote, reeling in 283 points, and secured another 183 points from the public.

‘Unity, peace, love’

The 32-year-old musician named the experience an “incredible, incredible, rewarding journey.”

Speaking to presenters Scott Mills and Rylan Clark after the scores were released, Ryder said: “We signed up to come and sing. We enjoy music, and I know that every single artist involved this year absolutely smashed it.

“Everyone was a credit to themselves and a credit to what Eurovision is all about: unity, peace, love, togetherness, inclusivity and expression. Thank you for having us.”

The post Vegan Singer Snags 2nd Place At Eurovision, Earning Best UK Result In 24 Years appeared first on Plant Based News.

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Celebrities changing the beauty industry

Walmart’s beauty merchandise director Angel Beasley said Osaka is “truly a pioneer in her work.”

While things are beginning to change (largely thanks to Rihanna and her ultra-inclusive makeup line Fenty Beauty), people of color are underrepresented in beauty. And suncare is no different. Many SPFs leave a white residue on the skin, for example.

Osaka told Women’s Health: “It wasn’t enough to make products that didn’t turn our dark skin white and didn’t have harsh chemicals.”

“I also wanted to dispel the myth that just because you have dark skin and don’t burn means you don’t need to take care of and protect that skin.”

Osaka is far from the only celebrity to launch a cruelty-free beauty line.

Musician Billie Eilish recently launched a vegan fragrance, Harry Styles’ vegan cosmetics line Pleasing debuted last year, and Ariana Grande’s new brand r.e.m. beauty is also vegan and cruelty-free.

The post Naomi Osaka’s Vegan Suncare Line Launches In 2,500 Walmart Stores appeared first on Plant Based News.

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Serena Williams’ vegan investments

Williams is passionate about backing game-changing products. In 2017, she invested in frozen plant-based food subscription company Daily Harvest alongside actor and Goop-founder Gwyneth Paltrow.

At the time, Daily Harvest’s CEO Rachel Drori said: “Serena and Gwyneth immediately understood our mission to provide convenient foods without nutritional compromise. Their passion for what we are building will make them instrumental members of our investment team.”

Alongside several other high-profile figures, including Bill Gates and Katy Perry, Williams is also an investor in Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat brand on a mission to transform the food system. 

According to WILE’s co-founder Gwen Floyd, Williams’ investment will make a significant difference to the company, and help it expand on its mission to help women around the world.

She said in a statement: “This investment makes it possible for us to break through the silence and get her what she needs and wants, where she wants it.”

WILE’s products will be launching in Whole Foods Markets this month. 

The post Serena Williams Invests In Vegan Menopause Supplement Brand appeared first on Plant Based News.

Newkirk is the founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Published in 1992, Newkirk wrote Free the Animals about the Animal Liberation Front (an international, leaderless movement that promotes non-violent action against animal cruelty).

The plot of Free the Animals sees a character named Valerie challenge the system, and her work as a police officer, after learning about the abuse of animals in laboratories. To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of its publication, a new edition of the book is out this month. It features a foreword from Phoenix himself.

“Yes, ‘Free the Animals’ is about the balaclava-wearing heroes who break windows and laws to save animals, but it’s also about everyone. It’s a call to us all to take action,” writes Phoenix.

“Whether it’s wielding crowbars and bolt-cutters or picking up a pen or a protest sign, every one of us can and must fight injustice and push for animal liberation every chance we get.”

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Joaquin Phoenix and animal rights

Phoenix consistently gives a platform to animal rights messaging. In his 2020 Oscar acceptance speech, he said that humans have become “disconnected from the natural world.”

He added that “many of us are guilty of an egocentric worldview.”

“We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.”

A few days later, the actor rescued a mother cow and her calf from a slaughterhouse.

Newkirk says that other high-profile celebrities have expressed interest in acquiring the movie rights to Free the Animals.

She chose Phoenix because of his long-term commitment to animal rights activism.

“Joaquin understands what animals go through and lives and breathes animal rights,” she told the Hollywood Reporter. “It’s part of his very being.”

The post Joaquin Phoenix Acquires Film Rights To Animal Liberation Book appeared first on Plant Based News.

In 1997, Cumming starred alongside Tonka in the comedy Buddy, which tells the real-life story of a New York socialite who attempts to raise a gorilla (called Buddy). While the protagonist was played by humans in gorilla costumes, the film featured other animals, including horses, parrots, and chimpanzees.

After his movie career, Tonka was moved to the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF) in Festus, Missouri.

The facility was home to several chimpanzees from show business. But, according to PETA, it was repeatedly violated federal animal welfare regulations. 

Missing Tonka

In 2017, Cumming wrote to Connie Braun Casey, the owner of MPF, stating that he was unaware that Tonka had been taken to the facility, and had been led to believe that the chimp would be retiring to a “sprawling sanctuary.”

“I just learned, though, that Tonka didn’t end up at a sanctuary in Palm Springs,” continued Cumming. “But inside a cage in Festus, where he isn’t able to have complex social relationships with other chimpanzees and doesn’t have meaningful outdoor access to run, climb, or play.”

After that, PETA sued MPF for keeping chimpanzees in “filthy, virtually barren” cages. 

But when representatives of the organization went to collect Tonka and six other chimpanzees to move them to a sanctuary, Tonka was gone. 

At the time, MPF’s former caretaker Tonia Haddix, who was then in charge of the animals, claimed Tonka had died. But PETA, Cumming, and the court remain skeptical. This is on the basis that prior to the rescue, Haddix publicly declared that PETA was “not getting the chimps.”

Animal abuse in the movie world

Tonka’s story isn’t unique. In the entertainment industry, animal exploitation is common. 

For example, after the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012, reports started swirling that 27 animals had died during production. Reportedly, this was due to dangerous conditions on the farm where they were being kept.

Another 2012 film, Life of Pi, was embroiled in controversy after its release. In 2016, the owner of its tiger star was charged with animal cruelty.

PETA frequently calls out animal abuse in movies and attempts to help the animals that are abused in the industry.

‘Tonka deserves to live in a lush sanctuary’

PETA and Cumming are concerned that Tonka is being hidden. They are offering $10,000 each for information on what happened to the chimpanzee. 

“If he’s still alive, Tonka deserves to live out the rest of his days surrounded by chimpanzee friends at a lush sanctuary, as ordered by the court,” said Brittany Peet, PETA’s deputy general counsel for captive animal law enforcement.

“Someone out there might be able to help PETA get him there.”

The post Alan Cumming And PETA Offer $20,000 Reward To Find Missing Chimpanzee appeared first on Plant Based News.

Regarding the news, Wesley tweeted: “I am deeply humbled and still a little startled to have been given the honor of playing the inimitable James T Kirk.”

Star Trek: New Strange Worlds is a spin-off from Paramount+’s Star Trek: Discovery and a prequel to the franchise’s original series which debuted in 1966.

A long-time fan of the franchise, Wesley follows in the footsteps of William Shatner and Chris Pine, who played older versions of Kirk in the original series and the recent film franchise respectively.

Paul Wesley and veganism

Wesley – who is best known for his role as Stefan Salvatore in The CW’s long-running show, The Vampire Diaries – has been vegan for over a decade, and frequently encourages his fans to adopt a plant-based diet.

In March, Wesley co-hosted the Taste the Future Luncheon with Uma Thurman, Questlove, Liam Payne, and The Good Food Institute, where innovative plant-based food alternatives debuted.

“As many of you know, animal welfare and fighting climate change are two issues that are very close to my heart,” Wesley wrote on Instagram. “And science has proven those two issues are very much interrelated.”

“We must fix our broken food system in order to restore balance in the world,” he added.

In April 2021, Wesley wrote on Instagram: “A plant based diet is hands down THE single biggest way to reduce your impact on this earth. I encourage you all to try to reduce your dependence on animal products.”

In December 2020, Wesley similarly tweeted that fans should “join me and go vegan in 2021,” slamming “the unimaginable suffering imposed on living beings” as a result of factory farming.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere on Paramount+ on 5 May 2022.

The post Vegan Actor Paul Wesley Is Captain Kirk In New Star Trek Spin-Off appeared first on Plant Based News.

After reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals, Barrymore vowed to reduce her chicken intake. Eating Animals shines a light on the morals surrounding boycotting meat, and exposes the animal cruelty involved in intensive farming. It’s also part of the reason why Barrymore recently partnered with Quorn.

The UK-based vegetarian food brand is known for making realistic-tasting meatless nuggets, wings, fillets, and more using mycoprotein (which is derived from fungi). At the end of last year—as Quorn launched its Meatless ChiQin Cutlets and Wings in the US—Barrymore took on a position with the company titled “Chief Mom Officer.”

The actor, who shot to fame as a child after playing roles like “Gertie” in 1982’s E.T., is also a passionate cook and cookbook author. In her role with Quorn, Barrymore is helping to develop new products and recipes for its website.

While plant-based meat has, historically, been more expensive than conventional meat products, brands like Quorn are helping to bring prices down. Last year, a study analyzed several vegan meat products on sale in the UK and found that Quorn had some of the cheapest options on offer. 

‘Easy, Findable, Affordable’

In the US, Quorn is also trying to keep its products’ prices as low as possible, according to Yahoo! Finance. All of its suggested retail prices sit below the $5 mark.

“I just want it to be easy and findable and affordable,” Barrymore told the publication. “Families cannot be expected to go to a farm stand and cook a full meal all of the time. These aspirations are not true to life. You have to find people where they are and find out what they need — and be gracious and thoughtful about it.”

Other plant-based meat companies, like popular US brands Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, are also trying to reduce the prices of their products as much as possible.

In August of last year, Dennis Woodside, the president of Impossible Foods, told CNBC: “We’ve lowered our retail prices and our foodservice prices twice in the last 18 to 20 months, each time by 15 percent to 20 percent, so pretty meaningful price drops.”

“Currently, our product on the shelf is priced a little higher than organic grass-fed beef, so that’s still a premium price, and we know we need to get that down over time.”

The post Drew Barrymore Partners With Quorn To Make Plant-Based Meat More Affordable appeared first on Plant Based News.

She was poised and pretty in peach, but she was also full of purpose. Because for the musician, the Oscar de la Renta look came with a price: the brand must pull fur from the shelves for good. And so it did. 

“I am beyond thrilled that the entire team heard me on this issue,” Eilish said at the time. “They have now made a change that makes an impact for the greater good, not only for animals but also for our planet and environment too.”

But she didn’t stop at the Met. Alongside her mother Maggie Baird, the founder of food insecurity-focused plant-based nonprofit Support and Feed, Eilish continued to make bold and ethical fashion statements during the 2022 awards season.

For her appearance at the Oscars—where she won Best Original Song alongside her brother Finneas for No Time to Die—Eilish donned a black, ruffled Gucci gown made with deadstock (which consists of previously rejected or unused fabric).

And at the Grammys, where the singer was nominated in seven categories, Baird accompanied her daughter in a vibrant red Mohammad Benchellal dress featuring upcycled materials.

Here’s why their red carpet outfit choices matter for the animals and the planet. 

The problem with red carpet fashion

The film and music awards season usually runs for several months, starting around November and finishing in the spring of the following year. Each glitzy event involves a red carpet, big names, and of course, lots and lots of outfits.

According to Vogue, for just one celebrity at one event, around 60 outfit options can be pulled (which gives you an idea of the scale of garments required across the whole season). But all of that clothing has an impact on the planet. For starters, there’s all the waste it creates. 

Fashion has a huge problem with clothing waste. It’s estimated that every second, a garbage truck full of textile waste is dumped at the landfill or incinerated. But when brands choose upcycled materials or deadstock for garments, like those worn by Eilish and Baird, they can go some way towards mitigating this impact. 

Problems with leather

Samata Pattinson is the CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress Global (RCGD Global), an organization that champions sustainable red carpet design initiatives. It supported Baird and Eilish to make their outfit choices.

Pattinson said that, while “red carpets create an opportunity for a powerful moment and conversation,” the environmental destruction they leave in their wake is a serious problem. “There is clearly an opportunity for a more streamlined, efficient, and sustainable approach to design,” she told Plant Based News.

Leather, for example, is a favorite of many designers and celebrities. But the material is detrimental to the environment. Just last year, a report by Stand.earth and Slow Factory linked a number of fashion brands, including luxury names like Fendi, Prada, and Louis Vuitton, with deforestation in the Amazon caused by leather manufacturers and tanneries.

Leather production is also cruel. Every year, more than one billion animals are slaughtered for their skins. And it’s not just cows. Kangaroos, sheep, goats, horses, alligators, crocodiles, and horses are just a few examples of animals that the leather industry exploits.

And just because the item is luxury, doesn’t mean it’s been humanely produced. Last year, Hermès submitted plans to expand its saltwater crocodile farms in Australia. If they go ahead, 50,000 crocodiles will suffer in cramped conditions before they are slaughtered for their skins. 

Why ethical red carpet choices matter

But change is happening in fashion. Like Oscar de la Renta, a number of luxury brands now have fur bans. These include Versace, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Burberry, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Plus, vegan materials are becoming more commonplace. Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci have all launched vegan leather sneakers in recent months. In April of last year, Karl Lagerfield debuted vegan bags made with cactus leather and organic cotton. In October, Danish label Ganni pledged to drop leather completely and replace it with a more sustainable and cruelty-free plant-based alternative.

Celebrities can help to drive up demand for more sustainable and ethical clothing choices. During red carpet events, in particular, they have a big influence. Not only do millions tune in to watch awards ceremonies live, but in the aftermath, the images of who wore what continue to circulate on social media. They garner hundreds of thousands of likes and views.

“Red carpet culture has evolved because there is a bigger focus on a story, a desire to offer depth and connect beyond the red carpet,” said Pattinson.

She added: “Red carpet moments are exciting and glamorous. But they are also a highly visible way to inspire education and change. Red carpets provide an opportunity to show your values.”

‘It’s really important to me that what I wear reflects all that I believe’

So when Baird and Eilish chose ethical gowns for the Grammys and the Oscars, they used their platforms for good. “It’s really important to me that what I wear reflects all that I believe,” Baird told Plant Based News. “I strive to wear clothing that is sustainable to the planet. That is also cruelty-free in terms of animals and also human labour.”

The mother-daughter duo isn’t alone in making more ethical red carpet choices. RCGD Global has been working to support more ethical and cruelty-free outfits at awards ceremonies since 2009.

Actor and activist Suzy Amis Cameron founded RCGD Global during the press tour for the first Avatar (her husband James Cameron’s record-breaking blockbuster). The organization spotlights the environmental and ethical problems in the fashion world and helps stars to make kinder choices.

Last year, RCGD Global supported Marlee Matlin, who wore a vegan custom-made Vivienne Westwood gown. Like Eilish’s 2022 dress, the garment features Tencel (a sustainable cellulose-based fiber). This year, Paloma Garcia Lee and Tati Gabrielle both made sustainable designer choices in collaboration with RCDG Global.

“The incredible platform our Oscars campaign gives us helps us champion brands that are going the extra mile to do good. It allows us to reach a global audience in one night – quite literally with one dress or tuxedo.

“Through the red carpet our campaign reaches millions in nearly 100 countries,” says Pattinson. “We have been promoting this change for over a decade now, but never in history has sustainability been more relevant.”

The post Why Billie Eilish’s Sustainable Red Carpet Fashion Is So Important appeared first on Plant Based News.