Carbon-Neutral, Vegan Soccer Team to Debut Plant-Based Meals to School Cafeterias!

Forest Green Rovers is an English football (aka soccer) club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England that became the world’s first all-vegan football club in 2015 after chairman Dale Vince took charge. Plant-based for the environment, animals, and personal health, the team was accredited by The Vegan Society in 2016 and has continued to inspire fans to make plant-based choices. And now they will be bringing their plant-based mission to school cafeterias across the UK!

Called the “Little Green Devils” range, the 100 percent vegan vegetable balls and burgers are allergen-free, uncoated, non-fried, and were developed in-house at the vegan football club. Beginning this autumn, they will be made in a dedicated new factory that is run by 100 percent green energy provided by Vince’s company Ecotricity. Interest is already growing from school caterers and wholesalers in the UK who serve over 8,000 schools across the country. And to make things even better for the environment, the packaging of these yummy veggie bites is fully sustainable, made with cardboard and compostable liners and labels.

Vince remarked, “We’d like to be in every school at least once a week because that would be a lovely thing to do. It’s about getting kids to eat healthier foods that can be vegan and free of all 14 major allergens — so it’s super healthy but also has some football heritage which may encourage young kids to get involved.”

He added, “I don’t see why we couldn’t go international as we’ve been approached by universities so I can see it very quickly going beyond schools and maybe the country.”

This move by Forest Green Rovers has the potential to have a real impact on the planet. In the U.S., “Meatless Monday” programs in 263 school districts over five years has saved the lives of 10.3 million land animals, eliminated nearly 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and the total greenhouse gas emissions reduced is the same amount produced by driving 1.4 billion miles! And these stats only factored in the impact of meat like beef, poultry, and pork, and did not include the impact of fish, eggs, or dairy. Considering the Rovers’ meals are all-vegan, the positive impact has the potential to be even greater.

As if all this were not exciting enough as is, there is even more good news for the Forest Green Rovers, as they have just become the world’s first UN-certified carbon-neutral football club! This accolade can be primarily credited to the club’s chairman Dale Vince, who is a renaissance man of sorts with sustainability at the forefront of his mind. As the owner of company Ecotricity, Vince has outfitted the club’s stadium with 100 percent green energy, including the use of solar panels — even the robot lawnmower is run by solar energy! They also recycle rainwater, use organic grass, and have electric car charging stations. And, of course, as they have done for years now, all food offered at the stadium is plant-based.

Forest Green Rovers and Dale Vince are also featured in a recently-made documentary series called “Protectors of the Planet”. Go here to learn more.

And to join this awesome team on their journey to create a healthier world, consider going plant-based yourself, even if for just a few days a week. To learn more about the environmental impact of our food choices, be sure to check out the Eat for the Planet book!

Image Source: Forest Green Rovers F.C./YouTube