A first of its kind mobile app to help people go vegan is being launched today after research showed half of Brits would consider becoming vegan.
The Vegan Society has released the free VeGuide app – which is now available on Android and iOS devices – to mark its 74th birthday this World Vegan Day (1 November).
The app is an introduction to a vegan lifestyle through a combination of interactive content with shopping, nutrition and recipe information, tailored for a UK audience.
It helps users deal with issues such as giving up cheese or struggling to find vegan products by covering the basics of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle over 30 days.
With 95% of people aged 16-34 owning a smartphone in 2018 in the UK, it is hoped the app will appeal to the younger tech-savvy audience.
Danielle Saunders, Digital Content Officer at The Vegan Society, said: “We are so excited to launch an app we developed specifically with the vegan-curious in mind.
“VeGuide was designed to provide a platform that’s more suited to the younger audience, which our research showed are the most likely age group to have an interest in veganism.
“We feel the development of VeGuide marks a new phase for The Vegan Society and a new way of embracing veganism for the general public.”
The Society’s research found that awareness of what veganism stands for is spreading among the British public, with 22% of respondents knowing more about it now than they ever did growing up.
The charity has worked with celebrities, dietitians and vegan experts to bring together all the advice VeGuide users are able to benefit from.
The video content is presented by prominent vegan YouTubers RaeLikesFroot and Jay Brave who act as personal guides, exploring the most common stumbling blocks to going vegan.
Budding vegans will be encouraged to stay on track with facts and motivational quotes, specifically tailored to the reasons why they said wanted to take the plunge.
The app, which has UK and US versions, also includes quizzes and a rewards programme for products registered with the Vegan Trademark.
Most vegan pledges are email-based such as those people take as a New Year’s resolution, making VeGuide is the first app of its kind.
A Vegan Society survey this year found the number of vegans in Great Britain had quadrupled in the past four years from 150,000 to 600,000.
World Vegan Day and Month commemorate the founding of The Vegan Society and celebrate how far the vegan movement has come.
World Vegan Month is the best time to start your vegan journey. VeGuide is available to download for free on Google Play and the App Store now.