Veganism is more expensive due to cost-of-living crisis

Vegans are facing a new challenge amid the cost-of-living crisis, with already expensive products soaring in price.

The Vegan Society states that the amount of vegans in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2019 – and numbers are still growing as awareness is raised around the cruelty of the animal product industry. However, meat alternatives and plant-based items are often more costly than their counterparts, a difference which is highlighted during the cost-of-living crisis and is making the lifestyle increasingly difficult to lead.

A recent study by the Office for National Statistics reports that approximately half of Britons are worried about energy costs, with bills increasing by 66.7% between March 2022 and March 2023. The only concern higher than energy prices is for food – and this is no different within the vegan community.

The Times states that going vegan can cost £115.44 more in the average yearly grocery budget. An Evening Standard study also revealed that vegan pizzas went up in price by 42%, as well as other alternative products skyrocketing in price.

Emily, 20-year-old Psychology student, has been vegan for a year and a half and is noticing the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on her lifestyle. “My weekly shop has gone up from about £15 to about £20 per week, despite buying the same amount from the same places”, she explains.

Cheaper protein sources such as tofu, chickpeas and lentils have increased in price according to Emily, who has admitted that she recognises the privilege she experiences in being able to maintain veganism, especially with it being “more accessible” than before.

However, no amount of new meat alternatives will make veganism more accessible with the huge rise in cost that the UK has been experiencing. The so-called ‘vegan premium’ means making the switched to plant-based products that much more difficult.

Some vegan companies are making steps toward more affordable products to make veganism possible for more people, especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis. Overherd is just one of the companies making this change, specialising in dehydrated oat milk powder – reducing cost, waste and emissions.

Sandy, founder of Overherd, believes the price increase in the vegan industry is crucial to minimise. “Vegan brands need to think outside the box as well as increase adoption and scale to make vegan food and drinks affordable for all.” Through having a powdered form of oat milk, users can make up what they need, instead of wasting a carton which is not desirable during the cost-of-living crisis.

There are other ways to combat the soaring prices of vegan products – if you know where to look. Lucy is a vegan of 5 years from Kent, who explained that “soya milk and milk alternatives have now become a staple supermarket item so if you look in the long-life section, there is no price difference on the supermarket own brands”. These small changes are what makes Lucy less phased by the cost-of-living crisis’ effect on her veganism.

“I have had friends and family tell me the cost of meat alternatives is the same as meat but in my mind, the cost of ‘cheap’ meat equals the poor care and support of cruel factory farms slaughtering animals at a young age”.

Being vegan is proving to offer no exemption from the difficulties of the cost-of-living crisis, and affording food as well as rising energy bills is a struggle for everybody. The surge in costs of plant-based products is making it increasingly difficult for those partaking in the lifestyle, especially with the already high price points of many vegan brands.

For advice regarding the cost-of-living crisis, visit the Citizen’s Advice website.

Featured image by @the_easy_vegan on Instagram.