The animal rights organization PETA has recently shown favor to actor Leonardo DiCaprio by selecting him as the first recipient of the Best Foot Forward Award, praising his significant contributions as both an actor and environmental advocate.
Summary
- Development of vegan products
- Contributions of the actor to vegan products This award aims to recognize investments in DiCaprio’s “planet and animal-friendly” brands and organizations, including his recent $4.5 million contribution to the vegan footwear brand Løci. Løci is a company that produces environmentally friendly athletic shoes, using materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic bottles, and non-animal-derived materials.
The animal rights organization PETA recently showed favor to actor Leonardo DiCaprio by selecting him as the first recipient of the Best Foot Forward Award. In a press release, PETA’s Senior Vice President, Lisa Lange, stated: “By investing in the vegan footwear brand Løci, lab-grown leather companies, and numerous start-ups making plant-based meats, actor Leonardo DiCaprio is helping to spark innovative solutions to the climate crisis and thereby reduce the suffering endured by countless animals. In gratitude for his investment in life for all beings on this planet, PETA has decided to award this famous actor with the first ‘Best Foot Forward’ award.”
Development of vegan products One of the prominent names when it comes to vegan products is the brand Løci. Established in 2021, this athletic shoe brand achieved seven-figure sales in its first year. It has also been favored by many celebrities, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde, and actor Ben Affleck. With its rapid growth, the brand has expanded to 26 global markets and partnered with popular retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus.
Vegan athletic shoes from the Løci brand Contributions of the actor to vegan products In addition to the UK-based vegan shoe brand Løci, actor DiCaprio has also invested in the “dairy-free” milk producer Califia Farms, the plant-based snack company Hippeas, and the vegan meat brand Beyond Meat. When collaborating with Beyond Meat in October 2017, the actor shared: “Animal agriculture is a major contributor to carbon emissions. And transitioning from animal meat to plant-based meat developed by Beyond Meat is one of the most powerful, significant steps that can be taken to reduce their impact on climate and the environment.”
Moreover, the actor has called on his social media followers to switch to plant-based meat sandwiches.
Furthermore, DiCaprio is also an executive producer of the 2014 documentary film “Cowspiracy.” The film examines the environmental impact of animal agriculture, inspiring the actor to change his own diet.
According to PETA, animal agriculture – including the leather industry – is responsible for nearly 1/5 of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the World Bank reports that since 1970, livestock farming has caused over 80% of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, with many intentionally set fires to clear land for cattle ranching and growing feed crops — along with increasing temperatures and droughts, parts of the Amazon rainforest are now emitting more carbon dioxide than they can absorb.
Actor DiCaprio joins other famous individuals who have received PETA awards for their kindness to animals, including James Cromwell, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jordan Peele.
