Our Top Stories
Supermarkets making slow progress: The WWF’s ‘What’s in Store for the Planet 2024’ report has assessed the UK grocery sector’s current environmental impact, with mixed results. Primarily driven by public demand, over 50% of UK-sourced produce comes from farms prioritising soil health and biodiversity. Supermarkets are also becoming more transparent, with 90% of the sector now publicly sharing environmental data and some setting science-aligned emissions targets. However, the report warns that efforts must be accelerated to meet deforestation-free and emission-reduction goals, as current progress is falling significantly short of targets to halve the impact of the average shopping basket. [Edie]
Successfully encouraging plant-based consumption: New research from Purdue University in the US has found that behavioural interventions to promote plant-based consumption can drive more sustainable shopping choices. In an online grocery study with over 2,000 participants, carbon footprint labels increased plant-based product selection by 37%, while plant-based product categorisation led to a 25% increase. Despite these interventions, participants often underestimated the environmental impact of different foods. This highlights the potential for even larger positive behaviour shifts once the tested strategies are integrated with effective education programmes. [PNAS]
Business Spotlight - Danone
Danone, a major global food and beverage company, has released an article outlining its current carbon footprint and reduction targets. As one of the first 100 companies to commit to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050 back in 2015, Danone now faces the challenge of meeting these ambitious goals while communicating its progress. Initiatives like this article are crucial, and we now need more companies to follow suit and openly share their environmental data. Businesses must remain accountable for their climate impact in the face of growing consumer demand for better practices. [Danone]
About Vela
At Vela, we make better choices feel effortless.
Since day one, we’ve been building tools that reward you for living well — for your health, your wallet, and the planet.
Whether it’s tracking everyday spending, earning points for healthier shops, or unlocking rewards you actually want, Vela turns intention into action. Because most people care. They just need it to fit into real life.
We don’t believe sustainability should feel like sacrifice.
Our goal is simple: remove the trade-offs. Make climate-positive living practical. Make healthy habits rewarding. Make doing better feel worth it.
We’re here to spark a shift in everyday behaviour — one shop, one choice, one reward at a time.
