A recent article published on The China Daily website reports on the growing popularity of plant-based meats in China and Asia as more people adopt healthier lifestyles and consumers choose more natural ingredients.
While meat substitutes are nothing new to Chinese customers, plant-based meat startups are a relatively new phenomenon and the country is also opening up to collaborations with larger, overseas brands. Beyond Meat is the first international plant-based meat brand to open a factory in the country and already has plans to open a second facility there sometime next year. Globally, the plant-based meat market is estimated to be worth $4.3 billion this year and is projected to reach $8.3 billion by 2025.
This market trend could potentially have an enormous positive impact on resource conservation as indicated in a 2018 study which found that producing a Beyond Burger patty uses 99 percent less water, 93 percent less land, 46 percent less energy, and emits 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared with producing a regular beef burger patty.
Since 2012, Green Menu has been working within our community to educate and promote conscious decisions regarding our food choices and how they impact our health and our environment. This is why we’ve donated over 600 pounds of plant-based meat alternatives this week to Shepherd’s Pantry in Irwindale whose vision is to alleviate hunger and to improve the well-being of those living in the San Gabriel Valley.
