FEATURE FOCUS: CATERING & NUTRITION
Sustainable school meals: paving the way to net zero
RUPERT WEBER, Head of Education for apetito, explores the role of school catering in supporting schools’ sustainability journeys
the agenda as it’s a topic that is of increasing importance to younger generations. The Children’s People and Nature Survey found that nearly 8 in 10 eight to 15-year-olds (78%) agreed that looking after the environment was important to them, and more than eight in 10 (81%) said they wanted to do more to look after the environment.
As schools strive to achieve net zero emissions, one significant area to target is mealtimes. From sourcing ingredients to managing food waste, how a school approaches its catering facilities can play a crucial role in reducing its emissions and achieving its sustainability goals.
Sustainable sourcing W
e are increasingly finding that sustainability, climate change and net zero are at the forefront of news and our public conversations.
For schools, protecting the environment and tackling climate change is swiftly climbing up
One of the most impactful changes a school can make to reduce its carbon footprint in the kitchen is to examine the sourcing of its food. The food that we eat can have a significant impact on the planet. Mindful food sourcing practices play a key role in both creating nutritious meals that support the health and wellbeing of pupils, and wider sustainability goals. Partnering with trusted suppliers who share similar values is paramount and enables kitchen staff to understand the journey of each ingredient served – from farm to fork. This provides reassurance in the quality and provenance of ingredients or meals being purchased.
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Understanding the origin of ingredients also allows better assessment of the environmental impact of food production, including factors such as carbon footprint and agricultural practices. If you’re wanting to make more informed choices about where you source your food from, it’s worth researching the suppliers you work with. Many companies will often share their sustainability credentials, news, and updates so you can check and make sure the suppliers you work with share your Net Zero ambitions. An easy way to see if suppliers have good sustainability and sourcing credentials is to check and see if they have sustainable food accreditations such a Red Tractor, Fairtrade, or Marine Stewardship Council.
By sourcing sustainably and working closely with suppliers, environmental impacts can be reduced supporting Net Zero ambitions and long- term planet health.
Reducing the carbon of school menus It is well known that making changes to the foods we eat can have a real impact on the planet. Over the past few years there have been rising numbers of people who are consciously adopting a flexitarian or plant-based diet to lessen the impact their meals have on the planet. An interesting discovery when looking at the carbon footprint of our own ingredient mix was
October 2024
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