Substitarians: The New Breed of Consumers

Vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets – whatever you choose, they are all paths toward a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable future. And that’s a good thing, right?

But wait, you can now add Substitarians to the list! The new subcategory refers to those who follow a primarily plant-based diet, but still occasionally eat meat, dairy, and eggs. The term "Substitarian" was coined in 2019 to describe this flexible, semi-vegetarian approach to eating. Substitarians make an effort to replace most animal products with plant-based substitutes, like opting for plant-based milk instead of cow's milk, or meat alternatives like veggie burgers rather than beef.

However, Substitarians don't rigidly restrict all animal products from their diet. They may eat meat a few times a week, have the occasional slice of cheese, or eat eggs for breakfast. The reasons for adopting this flexitarian diet vary – some do it primarily for health, while others consider environmental or ethical factors related to factory farming. The Substitarian diet appeals to people who want to reduce reliance on animal products, but don't want to commit to a fully vegetarian or vegan diet.

Based on a recent survey by COOP Switzerland, the number of Substitarians is on the rise as meat consumption falls. Who are Switzerland’s Substitarians? Read the full report on https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/coop-switzerland-vegan-substitarians-meat-consumption-survey/