Transitions to plant-based diets: the role of societal tipping points

Abstract

Changing diets toward more plant-based on a large scale could provide a huge contribution to reducing humanities impact on the environment. However, behavior change is typically slow, particularly for culturally ingrained and socially dependent behaviors such as food and dietary choice. A concept suggesting potential for rapid changes, though, is ‘societal tipping points’. This review explains the background of the concept using literature from systems theory, innovation adoption, network theory, and consumer behavior. Theories as well as recent research insights suggest that short- and long-term actions are needed to move more plant-based diets from a niche across a tipping point and toward becoming a large-scale behavior.