Animal Justice Project, joined by green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince and a coalition of supporters, has released an Open Letter calling on Starbucks UK to pilot oat milk as the default option in one UK store — the first step in a strategic rollout to align the brand with growing consumer demand, environmental goals, and ethical responsibility.

With dairy accounting for 22% of Starbucks’ carbon footprint, and rising public concern over the ethics of the dairy industry, the letter argues that shifting to default oat milk would reduce emissions, meet evolving customer expectations, support agricultural transition, and future-proof the brand. Starbucks has already taken positive steps, including removing the surcharge on plant-based milk and launching a ‘Store of the Future’ in Shanghai where oat is the default — now we are urging Starbucks leadership to bring that same boldness to the UK.

Open Letter: The Strategic and Ethical Case for a Phased Pilot of Default Oat Milk at Starbucks UK

You can read the full letter here and it has been featured in London Post and Larder Magazine.

Open Letter Signatories ‍

Dale Vince, OBE, Founder of Ecotricity.   

George Monbiot, Journalist and Environmental Activist.

Heather Mills, Activist, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur.

Peter Egan, Honorary Doctorate for Animal Welfare Work, Actor.

Alissa White-Gluz, Vocalist for Arch Enemy. 

Wendy Turner Webster, Actress & Charity Patron. 

Fiona Oakes, Ultra Runner, Four Guinness World Records Holder, Co-Founder, Vegan Runners.

Carol Royle, Actress & Charity Patron.

Professor Nicholas Royle, Emeritus Professor in English Literature, Author & Literary Critic. 

Professor Alasdair Cochrane, Professor of Political Theory, Associate Editor: Res Publica. 

Professor Michael Hassell, CBE FRS, Professor of Biological Sciences.  

Associate Professor Steve Cook, PhD Politics, Lecturer at University of Leicester.  

Professor Andrew Knight BSc./BVMS, PhD (Griff.), PhD (Winch.), MANZCVS, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), DipACAW, FRCVS, PFHEA, Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare.

Dr Alice Brough, BVM&S MRCVS, Former Industry Vet

Dr Guy Sandelowsky MBA, BVMBVS Veterinary Medicine, Founder, Omni Pet Care.

Dr Alan Desmond, Medical Doctor and NHS Consultant Gastroenterologist. 

Dr Mini Patel, MRCGP MBBS BSc PGCert, Medical Doctor and General Practitioner. 

Dr Laila Kassam, PhD Development Economics, Executive Director, Project Phoenix.

Dr Alex Lockwood, PhD Creative Writing, Narrative Strategist, Absurd Intelligence. 

Dr Jeanette Rowley, PhD Law, Vegan Rights Consultant and Advocate. 

Dr Ken Walker, PhD Media Psychology, Founder, Vegan Rise.

Dr Josh Milburn, PhD Political Philosophy, Senior Lecturer. 

Dr Rod Bennison, PhD Animal Ethics, Founder, Minding Animals.

Dr Alina Mia Udall, PhD Environmental Behaviour, Academic Lecturer. 

Dr Iris Marie Bergmann, PhD Sustainability Science, PhD EnvEducation, Independent Scholar, Animal Advocate, Founder Interspecies World.

Dr Dominic O'Key, PhD English Literature, Teaching Associate & Author, Cambridge University/ 

Dr Faraz Harsini, PhD Biomedical Sciences, Founder & CEO, Allied Scholars for Animal Protection. 

Dr Michael Daw, PhD Parapsychology, Environmental Activist & Public Speaker.

Dr Lorenzo Fruscella, PhD Biotechnology, Career Advisor, Animal Advocacy Careers. 

Stuart Evans, PhD Researcher in Philosophy Politics and Ethics, Ambassador, Etherea.  

Björn Jóhann Ólafsson, Research Communicator, Writer & Animal Advocate. 

Bel Jacobs, Writer & Campaigner, Founder, The Empathy Project.

Robbie Lockie, CEO & Founder of The Freedom Food Alliance.

Matthew Glover, Founder & Director, Veg Capital.

James Morgan, Executive Director, Vegan Haktivists.

Robert Pownall, Founder & CEO, Protect the Wild.

Liz Fynn, Founder & Director, Vegan Animal Rights Conference. 

Alistair Stewart, MSc Global Governance & Ethics, Lead Organiser of AI, Animals & Digital Minds Conference.  

Lauren Mee, Founder & Director, Animal Advocacy Careers. 

Sofia Balderson, Founder & Co-Director, Hive.

Andy Shovel, Co-Founder, THIS.

Joe Hill, Co-Founder, One-Planet Pizza. 

Sasha Jolliffe Yasawi, MSc Psychology, Political Candidate, Founder, Etlin (Ethical Leadership Initiative).

Jane Tredgett, BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences, Director, Humane Being and Scrap Factory Farming lead.

Jordi Casamitjana, Zoologist, Ethologist & Author. 

Kim Stallwood, Scholar, Author, Animal Rights Consultant. 

Michelle St John, Barrister at Law, Founder, Veganism in Education.

Emma Hakansson, Writer, Founder, Collective Fashion Justice. 

Thomas Pickering, Film Director, Founder, Running On Plants.

Paul Youd, 87 Year Old Ultra Runner, Ambassador, Running on Plants. 

Mellissa Ferret, Activist & Influencer.

Steve Ferret, Activist & Influencer.

Danny Sheppard, Actor & Former Slaughterhouse Worker.

Doug Maw, Former Slaughterhouse Worker turned Activist 

Stella Paris, Singer & Actress. 

Vikki Lenola, Producer & Director, The Vegan Fashion Show. 

Liza with a Zed, Fashion Model & Influencer.

Full List of Organisations: Animal Justice Project, The Vegan Society, Animal Rising, Animal Welfare Party, Freedom For Animals, PETA UK, Animal Aid, Viva! Generation Vegan, Animal Equality UK, Animal Save Movement, Plant Based Treaty, Better Food Foundation, Switch4Good.

Full List of Animal Sanctuaries : Surge Sanctuary, Ananda Animal Sanctuary, Willows Animal Sanctuary, The Retreat Animal Rescue, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, The Farm Animal Sanctuary, Whitegate Animal Sanctuary, Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary, Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary, Noo Beginnings Animal Sanctuary, Goodheart Animal Sanctuaries, Pear Tree Farm Animal Sanctuary, Tower Hills Stables Animal Sanctuary, Millington's Magical Barn Animal Sanctuary, The Base Vegan Retreat Animal Sanctuary, Brinsley Animal Rescue, Charlie's Place Animal Sanctuary.

 A Powerful Coalition

Our Open Letter has gained overwhelming support and the ask is clear: Starbucks must phase in oat milk as the default option. This is a reasonable, achievable demand that Starbucks cannot ignore. Failing to act, or even to comment publicly, only damages their credibility.

They’ve already made oat milk the default in a Shanghai store. It’s time to bring that same progress to the UK. Starbucks, we know you’re listening. Now it’s time to break the silence.

As always,

For the animals!