World Vegan Day is a time when people across the world reflect on how far the movement has come since its humble beginnings. 

In recent years, veganism has become a lot more popular as many people swap meat and dairy products for a fully plant-based diet.

This has seen big supermarket chains introducing their own plant-based lines like oat milk, vegan cheese, no-chicken burgers and even vegan fish. 

Plus major fast food chains are also catering to the plant-based diet, with McDonald's offering the McPlant, Burger King the Vegan Chicken Nuggets and KFC the Quorn Chicken Burger.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: (Canva)(Canva) (Image: Canva)

As many celebrate World Vegan Day, we thought we'd look into why the dark is marked. 

When is World Vegan Day? 

World Vegan Day is marked on November 1 every year. 

The date was chosen back in 1994 when the Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, Louise Wallis commemorated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation. 

How is World Vegan Day celebrated?

The annual day is typically commemorated by taking some time to look at the current world situation and to help raise awareness of how veganism could benefit the world's environment. 

Plus, vegans across social media are sharing awareness on the lifestyle and are encouraging others to give it a go. 

Meanwhile many people who aren't vegan use the day to go meat and dairy-free, to try and experience the food and lifestyle that vegans have. 

Schools across the UK are also use the day to teach children about the benefits of climate change that eating less meat can do. 

How does veganism help the planet?

Scientists have been working hard in recent years to prove the environmental benefits of changing to a vegan diet. 

The most valuable impact is the reduction in greenhouse gasses which are a major part of global warming and climate change.

There is also evidence that veganism can help combat world hunger, with the food used to feed livestock instead used to help those that struggle to find or afford food. 

World Vegan day hopes to inspire people to make their diets less meat-based with the aim to help the environment.