APPLE

Apple ditched leather.

In September, Apple announced it would no longer use leather in any products as a part of its effort to be carbon neutral by 2030. Lisa Jackson, the company’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, said in a statement, “Leather is a popular material for accessories, but it has a significant carbon footprint, especially at Apple’s scale. To reduce our impact, we will no longer use leather in any new Apple product, including watchbands.”

DELTA

Delta began offering oat milk creamer.

Delta became the first major airline to offer a plant-based coffee creamer. Oat milk creamer is now available on all Delta flights departing from the US.

FORD

Ford Motors stopped animal testing.

Ford announced this year it would ban all animal testing up and down their supply chain. Following an outcry over a 2018 study that used 27 pigs as crash test dummies, Ford’s 2023 Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report declared, “Ford’s practice is not to use or fund animals for testing nor to ask others to do that for us. We will continue to be leaders in creating, developing, and validating alternative methods to proving and providing product safety.”

KRAFT

Kraft introduces plant-based mac and cheese in the US.

Kraft Heinz announced their vegan mac cheese, previously only available in Australia, would hitting shelves in the US. A joint venture between Kraft and TheNotCompany, the “NotMac&Cheese” is available in two flavors: regular and white cheddar.

HERSHEY’S

Hershey’s joined the vegan chocolate market.

Hershey’s rolled out Reese’s Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Plant-Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt. Both plant-based products use oat milk and were designed to taste just like the original versions.