Pondicherry University Joins Sustainability Initiative, To Serve Plant-based Food on Tuesdays

April 27th, 2023

In a giant leap towards a sustainable future, Pondicherry University, one of India's prestigious central public research universities, has joined the Green Tuesday Initiative. The university aims to decrease its food-related environmental impact by serving plant-based food every Tuesday for over 5,000 students.

The Green Campus program of Pondicherry University is focused on promoting sustainable practices and reducing the environmental impact on campus. The university's decision to serve plant-based food on Tuesdays is a proactive measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and encourage sustainable food choices among students, staff, and faculty.

Dr K Tharanikkarasu, Director (Studies) at Pondicherry University said, “We have implemented several sustainable development and climate change-related initiatives in the last few years. From installing solar panels for efficient energy consumption to prioritizing water and waste management rules, Pondicherry University has always focused on integrating climate action into its development plans. This campaign, Green Tuesday Initiative, will help us reduce our food-related carbon footprint by serving plant-based food at an institutional level. Initially, we will start by serving 100% plant-based meals in the canteen and hostel on Tuesdays. Going forward, we intend to provide alternatives for dairy-based beverages too.”  

With Green Tuesday Initiative, Pondicherry University will be cutting down approximately 56,700 kg of chicken and 47,250 litres of milk from being served on their campus annually.

Sowndarya Ganesan, Campaign Specialist at Vegan Outreach India, said, “Globally and in India, institutions are reducing their use of animal products and choosing plant-based foods to fight climate change. Educational institutes play an essential role in building a sustainable future for the next generations, and steps such as the Green Tuesday Initiative will be the way to go. Our special thanks to Prof. Gurmeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of Pondicherry University, Dr K Tharanikkarasu, Director (Studies), and Prof. Rajeev Jain, Director (Culture) for their support. I’m grateful to Pondicherry University for taking the lead and implementing sustainable food policies at their campus.” 

Green Tuesday Initiative is a pioneering campaign organized by Vegan Outreach, an international nonprofit organization aiming to bring about food sustainability, fight climate change, and reduce animal suffering by promoting a vegan lifestyle. The initiative aims to help corporations and institutions fight climate change by making changes in their diets. They have collaborated with 37 institutions in India so far.