There’s a couple of cause 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 Checklist.”
Leonardo DiCaprio’s activism
One take a look at this Academy Award-winning actor’s resumé proves DiCaprio is a pressure 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 listing 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
The truth is, shortly after Titanic made him a family identify, the actor began his personal basis to assist defend wild species. DiCaprio’s love for animals traces again to his childhood, a time when, like hundreds of thousands of different children, the younger actor was obsessive about dinosaurs, biology, and animals.
Is Leonardo DiCaprio vegan?
An early investor in Past Meat, DiCaprio has been recognized for encouraging his hundreds of thousands of social media followers to make the change from typical meat to plant-based alternate options. Extra not too long ago, the actor has additionally invested in cell-cultivated leather-based—a kinder various 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 approach to life.
How Leonardo DiCaprio is saving the planet
From his a number of documentaries to beneficiant investments in vegan firms, listed here are ten methods DiCaprio is working to save lots of the planet.
Cowspiracy
1 He produces documentaries that change views on a large 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 govt 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 obtained 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 applicable that he was accepting the Oscar for his position in The Revenant, which encapsulates each the sweetness and energy of Mom Nature and the good outside.
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 people who inhabit it. In 2012, he publicly denounced poaching on Fb. One take a look at his Instagram, and chances are you’ll mistake it for the World Wildlife account. He additionally harnesses his platforms to advertise the vegan and earth-friendly firms he invests in. Web trolls don’t have any likelihood towards 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 at first, however he’s nonetheless reaching audiences that do not know what it’s like to look at Jack slip away into the ocean on the massive display (“I’ll by no means let go!” Sorry, we couldn’t assist it).
In 2009, he obtained the Large Inexperienced Assist award on the Nickelodeon Youngsters’ Selection Awards for his constant environmental work. He took the chance then to instill a way of environmental accountability in his younger viewers. Extra not too long ago, DiCaprio’s scholarship fund helps to help a brand new initiative on the UCLA Lab College. This environmentally targeted initiative is designed to empower college students by educating them sustainable meals practices by way of 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 various earth-saving charities and non-profit organizations, DiCaprio invests his wealth within the plant-based firms 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 Excellent 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 firms 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 give attention to 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 doubtless 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 alter the world. In 1998, he established the Leonardo DiCaprio Basis—now Re:wild—to guard the wild species who inhabit the Earth. The inspiration’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 steadiness of this planet. By preserving these animals and their lands, we’re preserving our house.
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 firms: Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat. Each of those firms 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 attempt cell-based meat, one factor is for certain: DiCaprio helps pave the best way towards a slaughter-free future.
8 He’s into photo voltaic
Photo voltaic is not the vitality of the long run—it’s the vitality we want 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 vastly 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 style
Whereas main style homes, manufacturers, and even mainstream magazines have denounced fur for its cruelty, leather-based remains 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 comprised of pineapple leaves, grape pores and skin, and cactus are on the rise. And now, DiCaprio helps fund a brand new various: 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 yow will discover cell-cultivated leather-based on clothes racks at your native mall, you may decide up leather-free footwear 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 “style 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. Right now, 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 take pleasure in fashionable conveniences similar to juicy, beefy vegan burgers—we simply want to hunt out good options that fulfill our desires with out wrecking the planet.