A subsidiary of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, the China Vegan Society is China's first national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting vegan lifestyles and supporting vegan advocates. By launching media campaigns, hosting festivals and conferences, funding grassroots advocacy projects, certifying vegan products, and facilitating international exchange, we break down barriers to build a diverse and integrated vegan advocacy community in China.

A group of vegan advocates decide there’s no time to wait

Although China is a highly vegan-friendly country where veganism and vegetarianism have been practiced for hundreds of years and which currently has over 2200 vegan and vegetarian restaurants across the country*, China’s vegan movement lacked a central hub for vegan advocates to share news, knowledge, resources, and services. Siloed across regional platforms and groups, Chinese vegan advocates had limited visibility and impact, and consumers curious about vegan lifestyles and animal welfare had limited access to information and resources. While the plant-based and vegan movements were rapidly becoming mainstream in Europe and North America, growth was slow in China. Although new vegan products were emerging, vegan brands were gaining mainstream consumers’ attention, and public perceptions of vegan and plant-based lifestyles were changing, they were still being outpaced by the country’s rising demand for animal products.

Food activist Jian Yi, a documentary filmmaker and founder of food system transformation nonprofit the Good Food Fund, decided it was time China had its own national vegan advocacy platform to coordinate the efforts of China’s millions of vegans. He began reaching out to influential vegan advocates across the country to assemble a team. On May 22, 2021, the China Vegan Society’s founding team marked the organization’s official launch with a ceremony and conference in Dali, Yunnan, attended by over 100 influential community leaders, entrepreneurs, and activists from across China and around the world.

*VegRadar, 2022

We envision a future in which veganism is the norm—where nobody feels they must use animals to meet their nutritional, economic, medical, and social needs.

We aim to create this future by influencing, empowering, and uniting vegans and non-vegans to participate in this shared goal

Influence.

Create opportunities for the public to learn about and experience vegan diets and lifestyle, enabling China's vegan community to reach critical mass.

Empower.

Support and empower vegans and vegan businesses to grow and succeed, through education, training, incubating, so that the Chinese vegan community can better contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and humane world.

Unite.

Create a platform for vegans and vegan businesses to connect, collaborate, and support one another.