Cathy is the digital editor at Nourish plant-based living; a long time vegan, she delights in making vibrant plant-powered living accessible and welcoming to all. She firmly believes that the best things in life are cruelty free, and loves being part of a movement that’s bringing positive change for the health and wellbeing of people, planet and other species. When she’s not on her laptop, she can be found cycling around town, cooking delicious vegan dishes, enjoying time in nature, or practising her beloved Oki-do yoga.
The world's first Vegan Interior Design Week will debut online from 1-5 November 2021, showcasing and celebrating the newest frontier in the world of conscious, kind living: interior design. It’s free, global, and not just for designers.
Over the course of five days, the first ever Vegan Interior Design Week is set to host upwards of 30 international speakers, panel discussions, live Q&As, a virtual showroom, and daily networking sessions, bringing together a community of conscious interior designers, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, property developers, and customers.
Created by Sydney-based interior designer, Aline Dürr, the event has been conceived as a platform for participants to be inspired by ethical design excellence, see the latest product and material trends, and hear thought-leading discussions from creative elites.
With both supply and demand for ethical homewares accelerating fast, it’s an opportunity for both industry insiders and the wider public, whether vegan or not. In fact, Aline makes clear: “If you inhabit or design space – be it a home, an office, a hotel, a restaurant – this event is for you.”
The next frontier in conscious living
There has been unprecedented growth across the vegan food, beauty and fashion categories in recent years, with sustainability, health, and kindness to animals propelling a surge in interest from consumers seeking to align their lifestyles with their values.
It was Aline’s own transition from vegetarian to vegan a few years ago that started her on a pathway to becoming a thought leader in the hitherto less-prominent field of ethical interiors. Until 2019, she was a regular interior designer working in a Sydney studio. Then, after watching the documentary Dominion, she went vegan overnight, precipitating a deep dive into the hidden animal exploitation behind homewares, from furniture to finishes.
Instead of throwing in the (all too often non-vegan) towel,* she started on a mission to discover ethical alternatives and build a global movement in vegan interior design.
Her research led her to make a plethora of exciting discoveries. Not only are there numerous innovative alternatives to the materials, products and components required for beautiful interiors, they are a rapidly emerging category, and a growing number of dedicated interiors enthusiasts – including pro designers the world over – are embracing and championing them.
*Learn more about vegan interior design from its creator, Aline Dürr, in her recent interview with Andrew Alexander for the Creating a Vegan World podcast – including why towels are often non-vegan, and the alternatives now available.
A celebration of human and design evolution
Having published an award-winning book on vegan interior design last year, and created a six-week online course (recently overhauled and upgraded), Aline is now taking the next step in elevating the movement, with the launch of her global interactive online conference.
Amidst a period of disruption and change, she believes the timing is ideal for the world’s first Vegan Interior Design Week. “Sustainability issues, animal welfare concerns and growing consumer demand combined with recent technology breakthroughs create the ideal scenario for revolutionising the interior design industry,” she says.
The program, hosted free on global event platform Beyond Animal, includes innovation-leading speakers, panellists and exhibitors, from next-gen material developers to conscious furniture suppliers, experts on building biology, biophilia, and energetics – and much more.
A snapshot of some of the exhibitors appearing at the world’s first Vegan Interior Design Week. From left to right: Flocus (top), Malai (bottom), Mogu, and Ammique.
“Over the whole week, I’ll be sharing the expertise of 30-plus wonderful, kind and influential people with you, who all make the world a better place with their work,” Aline says. “Not only will you come out of this event empowered to change the interior spaces around you and others for the better, but you will have learned about many different facets of healthy, sustainable and cruelty-free environments and ways to create them.”
*** Whether you are a conscious consumer, inhabitant of space, or designer wanting to know more, you can register free hereto receive the full program and take part in this groundbreaking event from 1-5 November 2021.
As the 2021 climate talks in Glasgow draw near, Australian politicians are calling on the government to heed the global campaign for a Plant Based Treaty, and urgently develop a strategy to transition towards a plant-based economy.
A global campaign is underway urging world leaders to adopt a Plant Based Treaty that would put food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis. A number of Australian politicians have endorsed the campaign, and now NSW MP Emma Hurst has tabled a motion highlighting its demands, and calling on the Australian Government to act on them.
It’s not too late for a solution
The Hon. Emma Hurst of the Animal Justice Party endorsed the movement for a global Plant Based Treaty as soon as the campaign launched on 31 August, along with fellow MPs, Andy Meddick and Mark Pearson.
“Animal agribusiness is destroying the planet,” Emma warns. “But it’s not too late for a solution. Our planet and all who live on it are in crisis, and that crisis will only get worse unless governments recognise that animal agribusiness is one of the greatest causes of climate change. We cannot wait any longer. The time for action is now.”
With her notice of motion last week, Emma is urging the Australian Government to recognise the negative impact of industrial animal agribusiness on climate change, and commit to developing a strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems.
Anita Krajnc, Plant Based Treaty global campaign coordinator, welcomed the motion. “The IPCC sixth assessment makes clear that we are facing a methane emergency, and a third of those emissions comes from animal agriculture,” she said. “We have five years at best to make major changes or face climate catastrophe. Therefore we applaud the Australian politicians who are asking for political debate in parliament on the need to quickly switch to sustainable plant-based foods. It’s a matter of our survival.”
Why a Plant Based Treaty?
The exploitation of animals for food is a leading cause of climate change, deforestation, water pollution, desertification, ocean acidification, ocean dead zones, ecosystem destruction and species extinction – all of which are major threats to the future of our planet.
The good news is, shifting to more sustainable plant-based food systems offers a restorative pathway for the future of all life on Earth.
This is where the idea of a global Plant Based Treaty comes in. It aims to halt the worsening deforestation caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to healthier, sustainable, plant-based diets, and to heal the Earth by restoring key ecosystems.
It’s a grassroots effort modelled on others that have led to international agreements, such as the Montreal protocol banning ozone-depleting substances. By gathering endorsements for a Plant Based Treaty from individuals, charities, businesses, local and city governments, celebrities, and politicians, the goal is to reach a critical mass of support by 2023 so that national governments will come together to adopt its proposals.
Growing momentum
Last week’s motion follows similar calls in the UK, where 14 MPs are seeking parliamentary debate that would bring food system solutions to the policy table. Like its Australian counterpart, the British motion calls on the government to “use COP26 in Glasgow as an opportunity to be a world leader in recognising the negative impact of industrial animal agriculture on climate change and commit to developing a global strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems”.
At the same time, endorsements of the Plant Based Treaty are growing by the day, as awareness of the campaign gains momentum. From celebrated musicians such as Moby and Leona Lewis to MPs and city councillors around the world, there is an encouraging groundswell of support – including endorsements by the cities of Boynton Beach, Florida and Rosario, Argentina, who recognise the critical role of plant-based diets as a climate action everyone can take.
***
At Nourish, we are inspired every day by our community that is awakening to the connection between sustainability and plant-based living. The Plant Based Treaty is the solution the world needs, and we are proud to have endorsed it. You can too, whether as an individual or as a representative of a company or other organisation: plantbasedtreaty.org/endorse.
Vegan Fashion Week returned to LA over two days on 8-9 October 2021 to present a curated lineup of international designers who are leading the way in compassionate, sustainable fashion.
The event saw industry professionals and fashion lovers gather in the historic heart of downtown LA for a series of four runway shows, where trailblazing ethical labels from around the world presented their new collections.
Creativity with conscience
The shows brought to life new collections from Vegan Tiger, one of Korea’s most prominent vegan fashion brands, LA label Fan All Flames, making its first runway appearance, Nous Étudions (Argentina, LVMH Prize Shortlists 2020) and newly-launched fashion brand Pure Void by US artist Parker Day.
In addition to the shows, attendees explored the work of leading ethical fashion creatives through the Vegan World designer showroom and pop-up marketplace, with collections featuring the latest in designer clothing, shoes, accessories, cruelty-free beauty, and plant-based textile innovations.
Runway showstoppers, from left to right: Vegan Tiger (South Korea), Nous Étudions (Argentina), Fan All Flames (USA), and Pure Void (USA)
The Vegan Fashion Week story so far
Since its founding in 2019 (and despite being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021), Vegan Fashion Week has firmly established itself as the world’s leading ethical platform dedicated to animal-free and sustainable innovation.
The driving force behind the biannual fashion event is LA-based French creative director Emmanuelle Rienda. She launched the initiative after awakening to the dark side of mainstream fashion, in which unjust and unsustainable practices come at a high cost to people, animals and planet.
Her intent from the outset was to create aplatform of discovery and inspiration for the industry by elevating conscious brands and creators from around the world.
An ethical expansion
This season’s event was the third in-person Vegan Fashion Week since its inception. With the theme of ‘Expansion’, it showcased designers who are redefining fashion, stepping up to meet the expectations of consumers whose widening moral circles demand new definitions of style and beauty.
“Vegan Fashion Week is a snapshot of this buzzing unleashed creativity, waiting for the right platform to exist,” she says. “We represent the voice of a generation that is tired of being greenwashed or fed elitist narratives.”
In line with her mission of building an inclusive movement, she adds: “It is not about being perfect, it’s about inspiring change and creating an ecosystem around values that are truly impactful for humans and non-humans.”
The October event attracted high-profile vegan enthusiasts including Annika Noelle (The Bold and the Beautiful), Tara Reid (American Pie), and model Katarina Van Derham, along with other industry insiders, press and influencers.
Alongside the fashion shows, the Vegan World showroom featured collections from: Lunar Method (Mexico), Awear (Venice Beach), Sylth Virago (New York), VeganWear, R99 (Norway), Dr. Martens (vegan line), Premium Basics (Italy), Shoes 53045 (LA), Solios Watches (Canada), Fleur and Bee, Maria Nila (Stockholm), Sylven (New York) and Anew Atelier (Sydney).
A rising Aussie star
Up-and-coming Australian brand Anew Atelier was represented at the Vegan World showroom, showcasing its destination-inspired vegan accessories made from apple peel leather and Eco-PU.
Sydney-based founder Gemma Trebilco launched her label in 2020 with the intent to challenge the idea of what beautiful, long-lasting fashion accessories could be, and could be made from.
Combining cruelty-free ethics, minimalist aesthetics, and a globally-conscious multicultural spirit, her timeless, nature-inspired designs are at the forefront of a movement that is redefining beauty and luxury.
Images, from top: Vegan Tiger, Nous Étudions, Fan All Flames, Pure Void, Anew Atelier • Cover Image: Nous Étudions
Alt-leather made from cork stars in Koala’s latest innovation in ethical homewares. Meet the planet-loving, vegan-friendly Cork Sofa.
When it comes to homewares, combining ethics, style and comfort hasn’t always been easy, but innovators like Aussie B Corp Koala, are changing the game.
Ethics and aesthetics
Ticking all the boxes for conscious consumers, Koala’s latest innovation is their beautiful Cork Sofa, built on an FSC-certified wood frame and covered in a natural, animal-free and sustainable alt-leather made from the fibre of cork bark.
As we’ve come to expect from this young but highly influential Aussie enterprise, the sofa delivers on both ethics and aesthetics. Available in a warm natural Yarra Cork colour or timeless Jenolan Black, it replicates the luxe look we love from a traditional leather sofa, but with no cows harmed, and none of the toxic chemicals used in traditional tanneries.
The skinny on cork leather
Cork leather delivers a long-lasting durability, water-resistance, and a natural texture that lends itself to stylish use in furniture and fashion alike – without the moral dilemmas that accompany animal leathers.
The cork is sourced from the bark of cork oak trees, which have a huge capacity for regeneration and support a rich diversity of wildlife. Once stripped of its bark, the outer layer regenerates, meaning cork is an entirely renewable product.
It is estimated that every year cork oak forests retain up to 14 million tons of CO2 – but once you strip the bark (which increases the tree’s lifetime expectancy) the tree absorbs, on average, five times more CO2.
Nourish and Koala ‘Subscribe to Win’ promotion
We are more than a bit enamoured with Koala, and thrilled to be partnering with them on our current subscription offer.
Until 12 April 2022, you can subscribe to Nourish plant-based living for a chance to win a win a queen-sized Koala Soul Mate Mattress valued at $2,700, plus a VeganBeauty sleep pack valued at $300.
Already a subscriber? A Nourish subscription makes a beautiful gift – or you can consider taking part by subscribing to one of our other participating lifestyle titles: Breathe, Mindful Parenting or Mindful Puzzles.
The highly-anticipated, celebrity-backed feature documentary Eating our Way to Extinction is streaming now. Here’s why everyone needs to see it.
Five years in the making, Eating our Way to Extinction spotlights the links between our food system and the unfolding ecological crisis. The message, narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet, is clear: we cannot save the planet without a plant-based diet revolution.
Celebrated actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has also supported the project from its conception, calling it “the film future generations will be wishing everyone watched” – and now we can. After premiering in London and LA in September 2021, Eating our Way to Extinction is available for streaming via selected platforms around the world.
Who is behind the film?
The film was conceived, written and co-directed by British brothers, Otto and Ludovic Brockway, who launched the project in 2016 with a successful crowdfunding campaign. The London-based duo wanted to create a compelling documentary that would bring to life the true cost of our current animal-based food system – and highlight the plant-based solution that’s still within reach, if individuals, business and governments act now to embrace it.
We think they succeeded.
Breathtaking footage and powerful testimonies
With Kate Winslet as our narrator and guide, the 1h 22min film takes viewers on a journey around the world, from the depths of the Amazon rainforests to the Scottish coastlines. Along the way, we gain eye-opening insights into the destruction and pollution caused by animal agribusiness, both on land and at sea.
The film is emotionally powerful, without being graphic. It features poignant testimonies from Indigenous people who are witnessing the destruction of the places where they have lived in harmony with nature for millennia. Environmental scientists, researchers, medical doctors and other experts join them to highlight the toll that eating animals is taking on the planet – as well as our own health.
Along the way, we also discover how lobbying and vested interests are influencing policy and perpetuating the destructive meat, dairy and egg industries.
Fish are not forgotten in the film, with acclaimed oceanographer Sylvia Earle introducing a startling section about the plight of our oceans. In the footage that follows, we learn how overfishing, ocean dead zones and pollution from fish farms and discarded fishing gear are draining our oceans of life.
There is stunning videography throughout the film, powerfully illustrating the destructive impact of our current food system – and the plant-based solution that is before us. Stills reused with permission.
A call to action
Despite its stark warnings, the film has an ultimately empowering message: we have a unique opportunity to halt and reverse the climate and ecological crisis by moving from animal to plant-based diets.
With easy-to-digest graphics and visuals, we discover how a plant-based food system would enable us to halt and reverse deforestation and biodiversity loss, make steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and radically reduce risks to human health, including the emergence of new pandemics and antibiotic resistance.
The final section is an uplifting tour of the plant-based lifestyle in all its culinary glory and health-enhancing potential, and a persuasive invitation to join this life-enhancing movement. With enough of us choosing to get involved, we can and will spark change among business and government leaders. Indeed, we must. In the words of narrator Kate Winslet: the clock is ticking.
Supportive resources for you and the planet
Alongside the film, the Eating our Way to Extinction team have launched a fact-packed companion website, a cookbook – including special kids’ edition – and a brand new online support program to help you make the switch to a plant-based diet. The program, Eating for Tomorrow, provides an individualised nutritionist-crafted meal planner, daily recipe options, grocery lists, and access to live food coaching. Access starts from AU$2.60 per week – and, through a partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects, a tree is planted in Madagascar for every month you are signed up.
Watch now!
The trailer is below, and Aussie viewers can access the full film on YouTube via Google Play or Apple TV via iTunes, priced between AU$4.99 and $9.99.
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