PeerSpring

It's been said that transportation is the largest end-use contributor toward global warming in the United States, producing almost 30 percent of all U.S. global warming emissions. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, "because of its near-total dependence on petroleum fuels, the U.S. transportation sector is responsible for about a third of our country’s climate-changing emissions."

At the same time, the choices we make in what we eat also impact the output of emissions.  Food systems -- especially those servicing meat-intensive consumers -- are equally responsible for emission, according to the report "Changing Climate, Changing Diets. So changing the way we eat can also improve the environment's health.

Even though the United Nations issued a report last year that indicated our rapidly growing dependence on animals as a food source is one of the greatest threats to the climate, there is still an education-gap around the relationship between Green House Gas emissions and meat consumption. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2013, US meat consumption peaked at nearly 200 pounds per year per person -- half of which was red meat.

Zazue strives to change this paradigm by delivering food through a delivery fleet of non-gas operated vehicles and affording the opportunity for students to make conscious and ethical decisions about what they put on their plates.

It's no secret that college students find little time to eat. What most people don't realize is that our future leaders of tomorrow aren't always making the healthiest choices -- either for themselves or for the planet!

Being that the college demographic has the LARGEST NUMBER of people ordering take-out and food delivery, here a few facts that might surprise you:

• about 3.2% of Americans—7.3 million people—are vegetarian, according to a 2012 study from the Vegetarian Times. While only .5%, or 1 million, are strictly vegan, a new study bythe Hartman Group found 12 percent of millennials are "faithful vegetarians" Nonetheless, 21 percent of college students identified as being vegetarian or vegan, eating only certain types of meat, or eating meat only occasionally
• according to a 2015 study, 40 percent of Millennial youth also like to try new kinds of ethnic cuisines and “anything new and different”
• only 28 percent of students said that they were satisfied with the healthy options at their college or university
• colleges across the country report students want more cooked whole grains
• colleges are now focusing on food to draw students, this is important because 99% of college students are on meal-plans.

The opportunity for Zazue lies in our ability to improve food services and experiences for students by tapping into local businesses, student co-ops and campus-based restaurants. By organizing a delivery-fleet of non-gas operated vehicles we will reduce carbon emissions and "food miles" for each campus we serve. "Food Miles" is essentially a measurement of how many miles your food has travelled since it left its producer and made its way on to your plate.  

Education and creativity are significant factors in empowering more youth social innovation. We believe that being in an environment that supports "thinking outside the box" and discussing previous innovations in social settings are the best ways to promote future innovation. 

The general public can help support this project the following ways:

PRIORITY #1: lessons from former vegetarians and vegans

students shouldn't have to abandon their vegan or vegetarian diets due to lack of available choices

PRIORITY #2: let's change the food & beverage culture

learn more about diners' changing behaviors