The Plant-Based industry has grown exponentially with sales rising by 43% over the past two years, surpassing $7 billion in 2021. This market is driven by the prevailing cultural shift towards veganism; attributed to health concerns and rising awareness of relevant ethical and environmental issues surrounding meat consumption.

Consumers are becoming more educated about the nutritional benefits of a plant-based diet and the diseases associated with animal-based meat such as diabetes and heart disease. Furthermore, ethical concerns arise from animal abuse in farming practices alongside heavy methane emissions breaking down the atmosphere. Major food manufacturing companies and startups have introduced a variety of plant-based food options, with its rapid growth supported by the billions of dollars invested into the market. Companies including Beyond Meat and Oatly are currently leading the plant-based industry, receiving multi-billion-dollar valuations. Technology innovations have also boosted the sector’s performance, through enriching the appearance, flavour, and nutritional value of plant-based products to mimic authentic meat, gaining greater acceptance from consumers worldwide.

This industry has captured the attention of ample investors not only looking to make a profit as they witness more food-based companies succeed, but to hold it as a long-term investment as they are recognizing the positive impacts of plant-based foods on global health and environmental sustainability. There are plenty of attractive options for investing, and actively following the media and article publications is the key to finding these unique ESG stocks.

The Plant-Based Investor is a publication helping investors discover rising plant-based companies and help invest in businesses that align with their personal values.