Meat is off the menu at WeWork

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DO TO REDUCE PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. — MIGUEL McKELVEY

LONDON • Co-working giant WeWork Cos. thinks it can save the environment quicker than Elon Musk.

The startup told its 6,000 global staff this month that they will no longer be able to expense meals including meat, and that it won’t pay for any red meat, poultry or pork at WeWork events.

In an email to employees, co-founder Miguel McKelvey said the firm’s upcoming internal “Summer Camp” retreat would offer no meat options for attendees.

“New research indicates that avoiding meat is one of the biggest things an individual can do to reduce their personal environmental impact,” said McKelvey in the memo, “even more than switching to a hybrid car.”

Individuals requiring “medical or religious” allowances are being referred to the company’s policy team to discuss options. A WeWork spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the memo.

Although the anti-meat stance is significant for the New York-based company, it’s not the first startup to promote alternatives to animals.

Juicero, a failed maker of high-priced juice machines, had instituted a similar ban on reimbursing employee expenses for meals at nonvegan restaurants.

Just Inc., formerly known as Hampton Creek, created a vegan-friendly alternative to mayonnaise and has said it plans to have what it calls clean meat on the market by year-end. Purple Carrot, a vegan meal-kit company, recently won backing from Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc, while Wild Earth Inc., a startup based in Berkeley, Calif., is creating pet food with lab-created proteins.

American Airlines Group Inc. and Starbucks Corp. recently joined the chorus of companies pledging to phase out plastic straws and drink stirrers. And Southwest Airlines Co., in a bid to reduce allergy risk, said this week peanuts will not be available on flights starting Aug. 1.

WeWork’s decision follows the company’s internal drives to reduce plastic use, and redistribute waste food from its events to good causes.

Founded in 2010, WeWork was most recently valued at about US$20 billion, though an executive from SoftBank Group Corp., a major WeWork investor, said at a conference in London in June that the startup was looking to raise funds at a US$35 billion valuation. The company’s Canadian locations are in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

MICHAEL SHORT / BLOOMBERG Staff at co-working giant WeWork will no longer be able to expense meals including meat, and the company won’t offer meat options at WeWork events.