Program Overview: Over 300 households in Bedford, N.Y., took the Bedford 2020 Meatless Monday challenge as part of a larger community 2020 Climate Action Plan. The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and Meatless Monday provided the Bedford 2020 program with science-based and promotional materials to raise awareness of meat production’s impact on the environment and personal health.
Objective: Use Meatless Monday to promote plant-based eating and reduce carbon emissions as part of a larger community sustainability initiative.
Process: Launch a 12-week informational grassroots campaign to encourage local restaurants, businesses, hospitals, places of worship, and school cafeterias to offer more plant-based menu options on Mondays and promote these businesses and institutions online and in print.
Outcome: When the 12-week campaign concluded, the Bedford community had reduced its collective carbon footprint by 25 tons (the equivalent of driving 56,000 fewer miles) and sustained a commitment to lower meat consumption. This behavior change coincided with significant increases in residents’ perceived abilities to prepare and order plant-based options. These increases were often attributed to elevated concerns over climate change, improved proficiencies as cooks, and changes to their local food environment.
When a community commits to change, it can achieve outstanding results in a short time. And that’s precisely what happened in Bedford, N.Y., -- a small town about 40 miles north of New York City – when a group of volunteers decided to use Meatless Monday as part of their broader Bedford 2020 environmental sustainability initiative. Bedford 2020 (renamed Bedford 2030) is a movement dedicated to addressing the urgent issue of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural resources.
Meatless Monday, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, provided Bedford 2020 members with a suite of resources, including social media assets, printable posters and flyers, and educational materials related to plant-based foods' environmental and health benefits. Additionally, Meatless Monday developed a community communications package that included recipes, tips, and a weekly newsletter sign-up.
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future conducted several pre- and post-surveys to assess the number of households participating in the Meatless Monday challenge and evaluate any behavior change. A post-challenge survey showed that 74 percent of respondents said the Meatless Monday Challenge raised their understanding of how food choices affect climate.
Small town lowers its carbon footprint with help from plant-based eating.