Fueling the Future: How Vegan & Vegetarian Meals Are Powering Ourea’s Sustainability Goals
When we think about endurance running events, our minds often jump to miles logged, elevation climbed, and personal bests smashed. But there's another powerful metric that’s starting to earn its place at the finish line: carbon savings.
Thanks to a deeper dive into the food served at endurance races, organisers are realising that every meal handed out can either contribute to or cut down on the event's carbon footprint. The numbers are in, and the difference between meat-based and plant-based meals is nothing short of massive.
2024 Cape Wrath Ultra mess tent ©No Limits Photography
What’s on the plate?
Let’s look at the average carbon emissions (measured in CO₂ equivalent, or CO₂e) for some popular post-race meals, per 360g serving:
Shepherd’s Pie with vegetables and gravy (Vegan) – 0.40 kg CO₂e
Shepherd’s Pie with vegetables and gravy (Lamb) – 1.34 kg CO₂e
Cassoulet with peas and gravy (Vegan) – 0.55 kg CO₂e
Cassoulet with peas and gravy (Pork) – 1.90 kg CO₂e
Lasagne with garlic bread and salad (Beef with Cheese) – 3.98 kg CO₂e
Lasagne with garlic bread and salad (Plant-Based Cheese) – 0.39 kg CO₂e
The numbers speak for themselves. Swapping out animal products, especially red meat and dairy, dramatically slashes emissions. For example, a single serving of beef lasagne with cheese emits over 10 times more carbon than its plant-based counterpart.
Cape Wrath Ultra 2024 Camp Menu ©No Limits Photography
Yearly Impact: From Plates to Planet
Over the course of a year, just three popular dishes, lasagne, shepherd’s pie, and cassoulet, showed massive savings when served in plant-based form at events.
Lasagne switch: 1300 meals = 4082 kg (4.082 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Shepherd’s Pie switch: 1150 meals = 1081 kg (1.081 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Cassoulet switch: 1250 meals = 1687.5 kg (1.687 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Total annual carbon savings: 6850.5 kg CO₂e
That’s 6.85 tonnes, or the equivalent of driving 30,000 miles in an average car.
Over the course of a year, just three popular dishes, lasagne, shepherd’s pie, and cassoulet, showed massive savings when served in plant-based form at events.
Lasagne switch: 1300 meals = 4082 kg (4.082 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Shepherd’s Pie switch: 1150 meals = 1081 kg (1.081 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Cassoulet switch: 1250 meals = 1687.5 kg (1.687 tonnes) CO₂e saved
Total annual carbon savings: 6850.5 kg CO₂e
That’s 6.85 tonnes, or the equivalent of driving 30,000 miles in an average car.
How Are These Numbers Calculated?
These carbon values were assessed using a tool developed by Small World Consulting Thanks to support from Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAFS) for these carbon values, with methodology rooted in research from Poore & Nemecek (2018). The model factors in:
Emission categories of raw ingredients
Classifications like meat, dairy, veg, etc.
Packaging and processing emissions
Generic transport distances
While not precise down to the last pea, the tool offers a reliable average for the environmental cost of meals, a clear big-picture snapshot.
The Takeaway: More Than Just Fuel
For athletes, food is fuel. But for event organisers, it's an opportunity. Switching to plant-based menus isn’t just a trend, it’s a high-impact way to take significant steps toward Ourea's sustainability goals.
By reducing the carbon footprint of every meal served, Ourea can demonstrate leadership in environmental responsibility without compromising on quality or experience. It’s a practical, measurable shift that aligns with broader climate commitments, showing that even the smallest choices, like what's on the plate, can contribute to a larger impact for the planet.
