Planted 2022: The Planet-Friendly Way to Get Your Protein Fix 

Vicky Kummer, head of corporate communications at Planted, explains just how the Swiss-based company turns plants into uncanny meat alternatives, in a bid to help create a more sustainable future.

Tell us about Planted and what it offers?

We bring delicious, plant-based proteins with a perfect bite to the table, all made from 100% natural ingredients and without any additives.

A growing population, increasing life expectancy, and incomes are among the major drivers for the rise in global meat demand. However, the current magnitude of the meat industry is beyond sustainable. Planted wants to change that.

We’re a Zurich-based biotech spin-off from the Swiss Technical Institute of Technology (ETH). We were founded in 2019 and have committed ourselves to nothing less than starting a revolution with our delicious and sustainable plant-based meat. Among other international awards, Planted ranked first at the TOP 100 Swiss Start-up Awards in 2021.

With an unprecedented resemblance to conventional meat in terms of taste and texture, we’re committed to using only natural ingredients and zero additives. The product range, each consisting of different protein sources (including peas, oats, and sunflowers), currently includes planted.™ chicken, planted.™ pulled, planted.™ kebab, and planted.™ schnitzel.

We want to revolutionize the way meat is perceived and consumed globally. We want to initiate a fundamental rethink and to reduce the devastating consequences of livestock farming on our planet. We stand for taste, environment, health, and animal welfare.

Who is the typical Planted customer?

We focus mainly on flexitarians. Many of us love the taste of meat but no longer at any cost. Awareness of the need to protect our ​environment and animals is growing rapidly – and with it the demand for alternatives to animal proteins. 

What can you tell us about the ingredients you use – and how do you get them to resemble meat?

By studying the physical and chemical properties of raw materials in depth, we can tailor and optimize the texture of our products using a variety of plant proteins. With the help of our sophisticated technology, we’re able to recreate protein in any size, shape, and texture.  

Additionally, all our products are inherently natural, free of unwanted additives and hormones, and are sustainable. As an example, our planted.™chicken only comrises four ingredients: water, yellow pea, rapeseed oil, and a healthy dose of vitamin B12.

Our products are produced in a glass production facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland – the first completely transparent meat production facility open to the public.

You can find out more about our process in this video.  

How sustainable are your products?

We only recently performed a deep-dive analysis into our sustainability efforts. We were able to see that our planted.™chicken, for example, saves an incredible 74% of CO2e and 46% of water compared to normal chicken – not to mention countless animals!

To calculate carbon footprint, the entire life cycle of our products and it’s animal equivalent was assessed. From growing and harvesting the ingredients, to processing and transport, energy consumption in our production facility, storage and transport to shops, and disposal of packaging – everything was included. 

If you want to know about the impact of your personal food consumption, you can check it out on our website.

In terms of nutritional content, how do your meat alternatives compare to the real stuff?

All our products not only resemble conventional meat in texture, but also in taste, appearance, and of course nutritional value. You can see the details for our planted.chicken and planted.pulled products as examples below:

Where can we find your products?

Planted is available at restaurants and retailers across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and most recently, the UK. Additionally, we have a European-wide webshop.

Are you optimistic about the future of plant-based meat alternatives?

Absolutely! We’re in the middle of an exciting and rapid development process. Vegetarian and vegan nutrition is certainly no longer just a trend.

A meat-free diet is now represented in all age groups, with the under-30s being the most likely to be vegan or vegetarian. This fact will in turn shape the diets of generations to come.

What lies in store for Planted?

Our goal is, and will continue to be, to develop plant-based products that are perfectly  tailored to consumer needs through both culinary and scientific know-how and ​innovation.

We’re currently busy with many new and further product developments – there's a lot in store for 2022!

Additionally, we strive to become the go-to plant-based meat on the European market. We want to show even more people how easy and healthy the switch to plant-based proteins can be without any sacrifice in taste and experience.