Plant Forward 2025: Sustainability Success Across Asia

This May saw ACTAsia’s fourth annual Plant Forward campaign in Asia with 44 events and activities taking place across seven countries. Plant Forward is an annual two-week festival organised by ACTAsia’s Compassionate Choices Network (CCN) that celebrates plant-based living and raises awareness surrounding sustainable consumption across Asia. This year 9 CCN members from SEVEN Asian countries — China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam joined Plant Forward events with a range of exciting and engaging events. The campaign ran from 16-31st May with website landing pages available 6 languages – English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian and Vietnamese. 

Since launching this unique initiative in 2022, ACTAsia has seen a fantastic response from our host nations. ACTAsia’s 2025 Plant Forward Campaign was a huge success with Total Engagement of 1.2m, Total Impressions of 158.4m and 192,585 livestream views.

Why is Plant Forward so important for Asian nations?

Campaigns such as Veganuary and Meat Free Mondays are popular in many western countries, but as yet, these campaigns are not so well known across Asia. Many people in Asia are vegetarian for religious reasons but very few are aware of the health benefits of a plant-based diet for humans, animals and the environment. The campaign highlights that adopting a plant-based diet is not only fantastic for personal health but it will also help to eliminate the suffering of billions of farmed animals worldwide and help to combat the urgent climate change issue. ACTAsia’s Plant Forward campaign can literally save lives. ACTAsia works tirelessly towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and The Plant Forward campaign contributes towards the achievement of TEN United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Some of the many highlights from Plant Forward 2025

In INDONESIA, Greeneration Foundation hosted an immersive: “From Garden to Table” workshop inviting participants to explore the concept of sustainable living through permaculture education. The session highlighted how natural processes and nurturing the soil play a crucial role in influencing the health of plants and the quality of the food we consume. The workshop featured a reflection session on the interconnection between nature, mental health, and spirituality. 

In CHINA (hosted by ACTAsia) the team partnered with schools, restaurants, cafes, vet clinics and other organisations to deliver 25 Plant Forward events across 11 cities. Activities included the now famous Plant Forward Bingo challenge which was even more popular this year thanks to the support from celebrities including Olympic Gold medallist Yang Hao, actor and singer Xu Jieer, and a number of other well-known actors. The bingo game encouraged consumers to complete a bingo card including various challenges such as ‘try a plant-based milk beverage’ and ‘plant a vegetable or herb at home’. Participants loved the idea and the incentive of winning prizes. 

Jill Xu – Actor
Yang Hao – Olympic Gołd Medallist
Jerry Huang – Actor
Chen Long – Actor

Events in other countries included a popular vegan baking class in KOREA. In THE PHILIPPINES, two cooking demonstrations highlighting how easy it is to adopt a plant-based diet were hugely successful and in INDIA a film screening entitled ‘Reversing Diabetes’ drew a sizeable audience. In VIETNAM – participants shared their best plant-based recipes for a chance to win prizes and have their recipe featured in the Plant Forward recipe book.

This year, ACTAsia also looked to engage university students and successfully reached out to students from 46 universities in four countries which included universities in China, Korea, The Philippines and Indonesia.

Social Media and surveys

Social media presence and visibility continued to grow this year, with an increase in the number of impressions and reach. Participants were encouraged to share recipes or post photos of plant-based meals they had prepared and we are thrilled that many took to local social media platforms such as WeChat to share their discoveries.

A survey following the campaign in China also highlighted that:  

  • 78% indicated they will incorporate more plant-based food in their diet
  • 61% joined the Bingo Challenge to help animals and the environment
  • 64% joined the Bingo Challenge to improve their health
  • 15% indicated they want to become vegetarian/vegan

The ACTAsia surveys are testament to the fact that we are consistently reaching the general public. The surveys also show that we are reaching those who are not already vegetarian or vegan and encouraging them to become interested in a plant-based diet and sustainable living.

Partners and Corporate Partners play a huge role

We couldn’t have made such an incredible impact without the help of our Plant Forward 2025 partners. This year the number of partner organisations including corporate partners grew and ACTAsia developed important relationships with key partners such as Starbucks and SF Express in China. In total 109 partner organisations in 6 countries supported the event which included 83 corporate partners.

Plant Forward for the Future

The results of the 2025 Plant Forward campaign demonstrate the incredible traction of ACTAsia’s plant-based sustainable movement. We can’t wait to reach even more consumers across Asia in 2026. 

If you have been inspired by Plant Forward and want to learn more about the benefits of sustainable living then please do get in touch. Equally please consider donating to ACTAsia to help further our global reach. Your contribution directly fuels our efforts, ensuring that the message sustainable living reaches even further. Every donation counts, no matter the size. Help us further our cause and ensure a kinder future for animals, people and the environment.

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