UCL wins plant-based menu award at U Dine Awards
5 July 2023
Now in its second year, the U Dine Awards – a joint initiative between Inside Foodservice and University Hospitality Seminars (UHS) – recognises excellence and innovation across the university hospitality sector.
![A group of nine people smiling at the U dine awards](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/sites/news/files/styles/large_image/public/u-dine-award-jpg-800-500.jpg?itok=qwZoh0CI)
At this year's awards, held at University of Nottingham, Gather & Gather at UCL were the winners of the Plant-Based Menu Award, celebrating their whole-campus approach to promoting plant-based eating. Their success highlights the close working relationship that Gather & Gather and UCL have fostered as they take on the grand challenge of delivering climate-positive catering together.
Gather & Gather at UCL regularly engage with leading research on behaviour change in order to reduce meat-based sales on campus and help deliver a reduced carbon footprint. This approach was positively received by the celebrity award host Simon Rimmer, a strong advocate of plant-based food himself.
The award submission shared details of the radical work taking place on UCL's campus to try and change perceptions on plant-based eating. Since the launch of the ‘Powered by Plants’ campaign three years ago, around 52,252.158kg of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented. Although Gather & Gather still offer meat-based options to the UCL community, they have successfully reduced meat consumption through cultural, educational, and financial channels, and continue to see rising interest and popularity in many of their plant-based food options.
Speaking about the success, Cicely Abdy Collins, Sustainability Manager for Gather & Gather at UCL, commented, “We are delighted that the hard work and innovation of our teams across campus has been recognised by this award, we look forward to continuing to lead change towards low-carbon diets on campus.”
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