pflanzlich

Pflanzlich is an adjective used in German to denote plant-based sources or characteristics. It derives from Pflanze and the suffix -lich, indicating that something is derived from plants rather than animals, minerals, or synthetic processes. The term is used across various domains, including nutrition, cosmetics, and industrial materials, and often appears in contrast to terms like tierisch (animal-derived), chemisch (synthetic), or mineralisch.

In dietary contexts, pflanzlich describes foods and meals composed primarily of plant ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It is commonly used in marketing to label products as plant-based, for example pflanzliche Milch (plant-based milk), pflanzliches Fett (plant-based fat), or pflanzliche Fleischalternativen (plant-based meat alternatives). The label "rein pflanzlich" is sometimes used to indicate that all ingredients are of plant origin; however, labeling practices vary and claims may be marketed with varying rigor.

In cosmetics and other consumer goods, pflanzlich signals plant-derived ingredients, such as botanically sourced oils or extracts, although it does not imply the absence of synthetic additives unless explicitly stated.

Similar terms in German include pflanzenbasiert and rein pflanzlich, and in English the closest equivalent is plant-based, often used alongside vegan or vegetarian designations. The term reflects a broader consumer trend toward plant-derived products and diets while leaving room for regulatory interpretation.