While there is a growing trend for big companies to take steps to promote sustainability, we are cheering WeWork because it recently took a huge leap—it announced its company-wide ban on meat.
The global company, which provides shared workspaces for entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups, small businesses and large enterprises in 22 countries, will no longer serve meat at employee events or reimburse them for meals that include red meat, poultry and pork.
“Companies have greater responsibility to their team members and to the world these days,” WeWork cofounder Miguel McKelvey told the New York Times. “We’re the ones with the power. Large employers are the ones that can move the needle on issues.”
In an email—obtained and reported on by CNN—McKelvey told his 6,000 employees that the company can save “an estimated 16.7 billion gallons of water, 445.1 million pounds (201.9 million kg) of CO2 emissions, and over 15 million animals by 2023 by eliminating meat at our events.”
“In just the three days we are together, we estimate that we can save more than 10,000 animals,” he wrote in the email. “The team has worked hard to create a sustainable, plentiful and delicious menu.”