There’s a couple of motive to like Leonardo DiCaprio—from his distinctive profession as an actor to his life-changing work as a really influential environmentalist, he’s captured the eye of hundreds of thousands worldwide. We’ve put collectively the environmental highlights of his profession—let’s name it the “Leo Record.”
Leonardo DiCaprio’s activism
One have a look at this Academy Award-winning actor’s resumé proves DiCaprio is a drive to be reckoned with. However the actor’s dedication to environmental activism is probably much more spectacular than his profitable profession in Hollywood.
From producing groundbreaking documentaries on each vegan’s must-watch checklist to investing in vegan companies and dealing with the United Nations to unfold consciousness concerning the state of our planet, DiCaprio is thought for utilizing his monetary assets and world platform to assist champion environmental causes.
Shutterstock
In truth, shortly after Titanic made him a family identify, the actor began his personal basis to assist shield wild species. DiCaprio’s love for animals traces again to his childhood, a time when, like hundreds of thousands of different youngsters, the younger actor was obsessive about dinosaurs, biology, and animals.
Is Leonardo DiCaprio vegan?
An early investor in Past Meat, DiCaprio has been identified for encouraging his hundreds of thousands of social media followers to make the swap from typical meat to plant-based alternate options. Extra lately, the actor has additionally invested in cell-cultivated leather-based—a kinder different to producing leather-based that takes cow out of the manufacturing course of.
Regardless of this, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not or not DiCaprio himself adheres to a vegan way of life. Whereas he has but to substantiate or deny whether or not he’s vegan, the actor’s plant-based investments showcase he’s, on the very least, supportive of veganism for the environmental advantages that include the life-style.
How Leonardo DiCaprio is saving the planet
From his a number of documentaries to beneficiant investments in vegan corporations, listed below are ten methods DiCaprio is working to save lots of the planet.
Cowspiracy
1 He produces documentaries that change views on an enormous scale
Ever heard of Cowspiracy? It was a groundbreaking documentary that shook the world again in 2014 by addressing the problems of animal agriculture and its devastating impression on the planet. And sure, DiCaprio was an government producer. He additionally executive-produced The eleventh Hour (2007) and Earlier than the Flood (2016), each of which he narrated as nicely.
2 He’s not afraid to make use of his platform to convey up large points
Earlier than Joaquin Phoenix acquired his standing ovation for addressing the dairy trade in 2019, DiCaprio used his first Finest Actor acceptance speech to debate the local weather disaster in 2016. It was all too acceptable that he was accepting the Oscar for his function in The Revenant, which encapsulates each the wonder and energy of Mom Nature and the good outdoor.
In between grand speeches on nationwide tv, DiCaprio takes to his social media to speak about urgent points that have an effect on our planet and those that inhabit it. In 2012, he publicly denounced poaching on Fb. One have a look at his Instagram, and you might mistake it for the World Wildlife account. He additionally harnesses his platforms to advertise the vegan and earth-friendly corporations he invests in. Web trolls don’t have any likelihood in opposition to DiCaprio’s huge affect.
3 He’s spreading the message to the adults of tomorrow
These sufficiently old to look at Titanic when it first premiered fell in love with DiCaprio in the beginning, however he’s nonetheless reaching audiences that don’t know what it’s like to look at Jack slip away into the ocean on the large display (“I’ll by no means let go!” Sorry, we couldn’t assist it).
In 2009, he acquired the Large Inexperienced Assist award on the Nickelodeon Children’ Alternative Awards for his constant environmental work. He took the chance then to instill a way of environmental accountability in his younger viewers. Extra lately, DiCaprio’s scholarship fund helps to assist a brand new initiative on the UCLA Lab Faculty. This environmentally targeted initiative is designed to empower college students by educating them sustainable meals practices via hands-on expertise in rising their very own meals. Right here’s to investing within the leaders of tomorrow.
Past Meat
4 He’s investing in vegan enterprise
Past giving to numerous earth-saving charities and non-profit organizations, DiCaprio invests his wealth within the plant-based corporations which might be pioneering a extra sustainable future. He’s diversified his investments amongst Past Meat, Hippeas, Califia Farms, and others. In 2021, he joined the Sustainability & Well being Advisory Council of Good Day—a food-tech startup that has created the world’s first animal-free dairy ice cream. We’re low-key mimicking his funding methods when these corporations go public (FYI, Past Meat already has).
5 He’s United Nations-approved
In 2017, DiCaprio was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a particular concentrate on local weather change. He accepted the place on the UN Local weather Summit and addressed the gang: “I really feel an ethical obligation to talk out at this key second in human historical past—it’s a second for motion. How we reply to the local weather disaster within the coming years will probably decide the destiny of humanity and our planet.” Preach, Leo, preach.
6 He began his personal basis to save lots of the planet and animals
Earlier than the Oscar glory and UN stamp of approval, DiCaprio set out on his personal to vary the world. In 1998, he established the Leonardo DiCaprio Basis—now Re:wild—to guard the wild species who inhabit the Earth. The muse’s scope is world, starting from defending elephants in Africa to safeguarding a number of pure California habitats. Every species performs a job within the delicate stability of this planet. By preserving these animals and their lands, we’re preserving our dwelling.
Aleph Farms
7 He’s betting large on cell-based meat
DiCaprio’s funding portfolio isn’t simply comprised of plant-based meats. He’s additionally investing in actual meat made utilizing cell cultivation. The actor is an investor and advisor for 2 pioneering cell-based meat corporations: Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat. Each of those corporations produce animal meat from a small quantity of animal cells in a lab setting, thus creating actual meat with out the necessity to slaughter animals or the dangerous environmental impacts of animal agriculture.
Whereas longtime vegans could also be hesitant to strive cell-based meat, one factor is definite: DiCaprio helps pave the best way towards a slaughter-free future.
8 He’s into photo voltaic
Photo voltaic is now not the vitality of the long run—it’s the vitality we’d like proper now.
In 2018, DiCaprio partnered with Kingo—an off-the-grid photo voltaic firm—to actually give energy to the individuals who want it most. The enterprise units up photo voltaic models in distant locations the place electrical energy is scarce or nonexistent. This work significantly enhances the standard of life for these communities however does so in a method that received’t pollute the planet.
9He’s serving to usher in a brand new period of moral trend
Whereas main trend homes, manufacturers, and even mainstream magazines have denounced fur for its cruelty, leather-based continues to be seen as a wardrobe staple regardless of its merciless manufacturing course of and devasting impression on the Amazon rainforest.
Fortunately, vegan leather-based alternate options constituted of pineapple leaves, grape pores and skin, and cactus are on the rise. And now, DiCaprio helps fund a brand new different: cell-cultivated leather-based. In 2022, the actor invested in California-based startup VitroLabs Inc. to make the world’s first pilot manufacturing of cell-based leather-based.
And whereas it could take some time earlier than you will discover cell-cultivated leather-based on clothes racks at your native mall, you may choose up leather-free sneakers backed by DiCaprio at LØCI. The actor invested on this eco-concious vegan shoe model in 2022. Maybe it’s time for DiCaprio so as to add “trend innovator” to his resumé.
Neat Burger
10He’s serving to revolutionize the world of quick meals
Based by world championship race automotive driver Lewis Hamilton, Neat Burger—a London-based vegan fast-food chain—opened its first US location with assist from DiCaprio. After the chain secured a strategic funding from the actor, Neat Burger targeted its efforts to embark on its growth to the US. As we speak, New Yorkers can get a style of this celebrity-backed burger chain in Manhattan.
It’s victories like these that give us hope for the long run. DiCaprio’s work proves that we are able to nonetheless get pleasure from fashionable conveniences resembling juicy, beefy vegan burgers—we simply want to hunt out good options that fulfill our desires with out wrecking the planet.
For extra celebrities, learn:
Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner residing in Orange County, CA.
