City, 19 May 2020 – Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has launched a new report in light of its ‘Atlas Challenge’ project, which calls on companies in the food industry to reduce meat offerings and increase plant-based alternatives as well as innovative meat substitutes. Delivery services that want to be forward-thinking are prompted to include meat reduction as part of their CSR reports, simplify the search for plant-based alternatives and encourage restaurant partners to offer more meat-free dishes. Out of 14 global online delivery services contacted by FOUR PAWS, only five (Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, Foodora, TakeAway and JUST EAT) took part in the questionnaire, one of which was open to discussions on how they could support the campaign. In the ranking included in the report, most of the 14 companies reach a low to average score, with only one delivery service – JUST EAT – scoring significantly higher.

While most of the delivery services have current strategies in place towards climate and environmental protection, FOUR PAWS found that none have a written commitment nor policy in place which supports the importance of meat reduction. “A clear focus on meat reduction helps combat climate change and environmental destruction. In times of the climate crisis, most food delivery apps rely on bicycles and environmentally friendly packaging. However, they ignore the fact that intensive farming has enormous negative effects on animals and the environment. We hope that with the already existing positive initiatives in place by some companies, like foodpanda in Singapore, others will follow suit. By signing the FOUR PAWS Atlas Challenge commitment, the delivery services would implement concrete actions to promote animal and climate friendly food options and practices. Our doors are open, and we are happy to support the changeover,” says Sonja Svensek, Head of Nutrition at FOUR PAWS.

Lack of transparency in food ordering platforms

In a first step, FOUR PAWS asked the 14 most popular online food delivery apps (Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, Doordash, Foodora, Foodpanda, Grub Hub, JUST EAT, Meituan Waimai, Mjam, Swiggy, TakeAway, Talabat, Uber Eats and Zomato) whether they try to reduce the amount of meat by, for example, highlighting plant-based instead of meat dishes and creating awareness among restaurant partners and consumers of the importance of meat reduction. Only five of the 14 companies surveyed provided insights into their activities on sustainable and innovative food strategies. FOUR PAWS will continue monitoring the changes and steps taken by food delivery services in future and also examine supermarkets, fast food chains and food producers and ask them to adopt an approach that is more focussed on meat reduction.

The ‘Atlas Challenge’ by FOUR PAWS

FOUR PAWS aims to end factory farming. The goal of the new FOUR PAWS project is to encourage the major players in the food industry – food delivery companies, supermarkets, fast food chains and food corporations – to reduce the offer and use of meat and increase plant-based alternatives and meat substitutes. By adding this goal to their CSR policies, delivery services could help to drive change towards animal and climate friendly nutrition.

For all press enquiries contact: Hannah Baker – Head of Communications FOUR PAWS UK

07966 032 235 / Hannah.baker@four-paws.org

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions, as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, the USA and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.uk