Surge in Plant-Based Certification Uptake

Since its launch in November 2024, the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Certification Mark has seen exponential growth across a diverse range of products as many brands are keen to become instantly recognizable to shoppers with trusted plant-based credentials.

Said Nina Anderson, Head of Corporate Sales at the Vegetarian Society: “Since the launch of our Plant-Based Certification in November 2024, we have seen a significant rise in brands adopting the certification; either as a standalone credential or to complement our Vegan and Vegetarian certifications.

“Our Plant-Based Certification Mark enables products to carry a certification that may be better aligned with their brand identity. Together, our trinity of certifications allows customers to make informed purchasing decisions at a glance.

“With the recent uptake of the Plant-Based Mark accounting for around 50% of recent certification completions, consumers will soon begin to notice our mark on a growing range of products, from supermarket staples in retailers like Lidl to Plant-Based CO₂ used in products such as fizzy drinks.”

Early adopters of the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Certification Mark include Blended – Plant Based Co2, For the Love for the Earth, Good Wines, Lidl GB, Earthy N Green, Afriveg, Khet and Co, What A Date, Little Mixers and Donnington Laboratories.

In February 2025, award-winning pasty brand, Phat Pasty, became the first pasty company to have products accredited with the Vegetarian Society’s Plant-Based Trademark. Phat Pasty recently showcased their Plant-Based Certified products at Japan’s biggest British Food Fair.

In total, over 10,000 pasties were exported from the UK for the event, with another 5,000 freshly made on-site throughout the show – proving the Cornish classic has true international appeal.

Paul Clark, Phat Controller at Phat Pasty, who attended the show, said: “It was an incredible experience to bring our British pasties to Japan and see such enthusiasm from visitors. The Japanese audience really embraced the idea of hand-crimping and were fascinated by our plant-based pasties – both flavours were a real hit! To be invited to be a part of an event of this scale, celebrating British food culture on the other side of the world, was something truly special.”