- [Narrator] This week, we're talking about
a new addition for Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara,
David Beckham's veg diet,
and Reebok's new plant-based running shoes.
This is LiveKindly News.
Congrats are in order for Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara.
The vegan power couple just welcomed
their first child together and they named him River,
in honor of Phoenix's late brother.
We're not crying, you're crying.
River Phoenix tragically passed away in 1993.
The two brothers shared many similarities.
They were both actors, activists,
and both abstained from eating meat.
During his iconic acceptance speech
for best actor at the 2020 Academy Awards,
Joaquin spoke out about the world's many inequalities.
- I think whether we're talking about
gender inequality or racism or queer rights
or indigenous rights or animal rights,
we're talking about the fight against injustice.
But human beings at our best are so inventive
and creative and ingenious,
and I think that when we use love and compassion
as our guiding principles,
we can create, develop and implement
systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings
and to the environment.
- [Narrator] David Beckham says he hasn't eaten meat
in three weeks.
The former professional soccer player
and his wife, Victoria Beckham,
were recently on a spa retreat in southwestern Germany.
Beckham is a known foodie who often shares
his meat heavy meals on social media.
He posted photos of the couple's meals while on vacation.
He wrote on his Instagram stories,
"Never done this before, but then eating veggie
for the past three weeks, which hasn't been easy,
but it is actually enjoyable."
Their meat-free meals included a chilled pea soup
that Beckham dubbed amazing,
zucchini noodles with mushrooms, chickpea salad,
vegetable soup, eggplant with blue cheese,
smoked watermelon and sweet potato.
Reel Paper is a California based brand producing
sustainable three ply toilet paper from bamboo.
Reel Paper's co-founder Derin Oyekan told LiveKindly,
" We started Reel to introduce a more sustainable,
earth friendly option for making something
almost everyone uses.
We are just getting started on our mission
to convert people from using tree based paper products."
The US is the largest consumer of toilet paper in the world,
and every year the average household
uses approximately 409 regular rolls,
creating a huge environmental impact.
Reel Paper set out to change that by using bamboo.
Oyekan said, "With over 27,000 trees
being cut down daily to make toilet paper,
we felt compelled to do something about it."
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet
and can grow three feet in just 24 hours.
It also doesn't require replanting
and produces 25% more oxygen than other trees.
Reel Paper's also partnered with SOIL Haiti,
a nonprofit organization that provides toilets
and waste removal services to communities that need them.
SOIL Haiti transforms collected waste into compost,
which is used to support reforestation.
So each Reel Paper purchase helps
mitigate the impact of climate change.
Your Target run just got a lot more vegan.
The retail chain announced the launch
of high protein vegan burgers under its flagship
Good & Gather brand.
The new plant based meatless beef style patties
come in 12 ounce packages and are packed with
16 grams of pea protein per serving.
Upcoming vegan products also include
crispy chickenless tenders, meatless crumble,
a spicy black bean burger, falafel with Tzatziki sauce,
and date and nut mini bars.
They join existing items in the Good & Gather product line,
like oat milk, vegan mayo, and plant-based ground beef.
Europe's vegan food market just got a boost.
Plant-based brand Vivera has invested 30 million euros
to increase its production capacity.
The Dutch company says the latest investment
will go towards doubling the size
of its plant-based manufacturing facility
in the Netherlands.
Vivera CEO Willem van Weede told Food Ingredients First
that this will allow the company to grow its capacity
from 17 million kilograms per year
to 45 million kilograms by 2025.
The CEO says the investment is due to
an increase in demand for plant-based products
throughout the region.
Europe has seen a surge of interest in veganism.
According to a 2014 study,
approximately 75 million Europeans now follow
a plant based or predominantly plant based diet.
Then Weede explained, "Plant based eating
is now the new normal.
Our overall aim is to help consumers switch more easily
to plant based diets to make diets healthier,
food production greener, and save animal lives."
Vegan sneaker heads can now score
a kinder pair of kicks from Reebok.
The popular shoe brand debuted its first vegan sneakers,
and they're as sustainable as they are stylish.
The forever floatride grow is Reebok's
latest pair of performance running shoes.
And if they look familiar it's because they are an update
to the brands award-winning forever float ride energy shoe.
They just have a sustainable twist.
The trainers are USDA certified plant based,
and feature four key eco-friendly materials.
An algae based soft liner, an upper made from eucalyptus,
a midsole made of castor beans,
and a natural rubber outsole.
You can snag a pair of the brand's eco-friendly trainers
on Reebok Unlocked.
Cruelty-free fashion is gaining popularity
in the clothing industry.
Nordstrom has announced it will ban fur
and exotic animal skins by the end of 2021.
The US luxury department store chain
made its pledge to ditch fur and exotic animal skins
in partnership with the animal rights organization
Humane Society of the United States.
Kitty Block, the Humane Society's president and CEO said,
"This is a pivotal step toward a more humane business model
and a safer world for animals,
sending a clear message that animals
should not suffer for the sake of fashion."
The luxury department store's ban
extends to Nordstrom Rack, Last Chance stores,
and Nordstrom's eCommerce sites.
That's it for today.
Were you surprised about Joaquin Phoenix
and Rooney Mara's baby name?
Were you moved to tears like we were?
Let us know in the comments below.
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We'll see you again next Monday for LiveKindly News.