Pizza, one of the most popular foods around the globe, just got a new twist that is friendlier for the planet in celebration of World Eat for Good Day on 19 February. Knorr, the global food brand known for bringing flavor to tables worldwide, is launching Plizza – a planet-friendlier pizza. The global food brand has reinvented the classic dish to be plant-based with ingredients that are better for people and the planet - from crust to toppings. According to the brand, approximately five billion pizzas are sold every year around the world, so by changing pizza to be planet-friendlier, we can collectively have a significant positive impact when we make swaps to ingredients that are better for the planet.
The Plizza was available for free on World Eat for Good Day in six cities around the globe - created fresh and delivered hot via the local food delivery app. Participating cities in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, South-Africa, Thailand, and China delivered a limited number of Plizzas on 19 February. For those who miss the Plizza delivery opportunity, the recipe and cook along video will be available at knorrplizza.com.
Knorr developed the Plizza to show how easy it is to make delicious swaps in everyday meals that can decrease foods' negative impact on the planet while increasing its positive impact on health. The brand states that our food system is currently a key contributor to climate change, species loss, water scarcity, and soil loss and damage. 75% of the global food supply is made up of just 12 plant and five animal species making the food system fragile to the potential impacts of diseases, pests, and climate change. The good news is that 'Food is the strongest lever to maximize human and planetary health on Earth. Eating a wider variety of plant-based foods helps safeguard the future of food while providing more nutrients and reducing the use of the planet's resources. Launching Plizza is part of Knorr's commitment to get food that is good for people and the planet on seven billion plates by 2025, globally.
The first-ever Plizza, created by renowned Knorr chefs, is plant-based and packed with Future 50 Foods – foods better for people and the planet1. The recipe becomes a Plizza with three simple swaps, including making the dough with wholegrain spelt flour, adding a Knorr flavoured sauce made with sustainably sourced ingredients paired with soil-enriching, high fiber beans, and replacing them the toppings with nutrient-packed veggies like fast-growing spinach and self-sowing watercress.
What makes the Plizza planet friendlier?
It is plant-based. More than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions (main contributor to climate change) come from food agriculture – of which more than 60% comes from animals. Decreasing the number of animal-based foods we eat lowers food's impact on climate change.
It has a wide variety of ingredients. 75% of the global food supply is made up of just 12 plant and five animal species. This is causing a loss of species – making the food system fragile to pests and climate changes. The Plizza includes a variety of Knorr and WWF's Future 50 Foods to help build a more resilient food system that can feed our growing population.
Knorr products contain ingredients that are grown with care. For Knorr it is important that our ingredients are grown with care for people and the planet. 95% of Knorr vegetables and herbs are grown sustainably, globally and will grow 80% of key ingredients (vegetables, herbs, spices, grains) following Unilever Regenerative Agriculture Principles by 2026. With experts predicting there is less than 30 years of water left and 90% of soil (where our food is grown) will be degraded by 20507, there is an urgent need to grow food in ways that sustain and regenerate nature.
April Redmond, Global brand vice president, Knorr, said, "Food is a delicious force for good and we're on a mission to get food that's better for us and the planet on everyone's plates. With Knorr's authentic flavour paired with the Future 50 foods we are showing the world just how irresistible eating for good can be. Together we will change the world by changing what's on our plates."
Dorothy Shaver, Global Food Sustainability director, Unilever, said, "On World Eat for Good Day, we want to help everyone understand the impact our food system has on our planet and our health and provide a delicious way to make a positive change. Knorr is on a mission to help everyone eat a wider variety of plants grown in sustainable and regenerative ways for our health and the health of the planet. Through this campaign, in addition to our products, programs, and partnerships we are inspiring everyone to Eat for Good."