Educating by Example: How St. Faith's Achieved a 58% Reduction in Food Waste

In an inspiring commitment to sustainability, St. Faith's School has dramatically reduced its food waste by 58% since 2017. This impressive achievement underscores their dedication to minimizing their carbon footprint and offers a compelling model for other educational institutions.

Tackling global food waste through education  

Food waste is a significant global problem with far-reaching environmental, social, and economic consequences. The United Nations reports that one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, contributing notably to greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK, schools are in a unique position to shape young minds and foster sustainable practices. St. Faith's School has fully embraced this role, integrating food waste education into both their curriculum and everyday operations.

"Communication is key. The team needs to be passionate about reducing food waste, and the data needs to be shared with everyone. Training on Winnow, and all waste management systems, is essential to ensure accurate data collection, which helps in setting realistic targets and achieving them." - Peter Burt, General Manager for Chartwells Independent at St Faith’s 

Empowered by Technology 

St. Faith's journey toward reducing food waste began in 2017 with the implementation of the Winnow system, recommended by Chartwells Independent. This innovative technology uses a scale to track food waste in the kitchen, recording the type and amount of discarded food. The system generates detailed reports that help kitchen staff understand waste patterns. Daily email summaries highlight key findings, and the Winnow Hub, an online platform, stores and analyzes historical data. This comprehensive approach allows the team to monitor long-term trends and measure the impact of their waste reduction efforts.

Targeted Initiatives for Waste Reduction

Armed with precise data, St. Faith's has implemented several targeted initiatives:

• Menu Optimization: By identifying unpopular dishes and adjusting portion sizes, the kitchen team has made menu planning more efficient and aligned with student preferences, significantly reducing food waste.
• Creative Repurposing: In the kitchen, sustainability meets creativity. Leftover ingredients are repurposed in inventive ways: carrot skins are dried and used as salad toppers, broccoli stalks become tangy kimchi, cauliflower leaves are mixed with florets for flavorful dishes, and fruit trimmings are infused into water for refreshing drinks. These practices ensure that nearly every part of the ingredients is utilized.
• Plate Waste Reduction: Plate waste, or perfectly good food left uneaten, is a significant contributor to school food waste. By analyzing which foods are frequently left on plates, the kitchen team can adjust portion sizes and meal offerings. Educating students on the importance of finishing their meals turns every lunch period into a learning opportunity about food conservation. This targeted approach has led to a noticeable reduction in plate waste.

The Results 

The initiatives at St. Faith's have yielded remarkable results:

• 9,153 kg of food waste saved annually
• 22,883 meals saved each year
• 39,359 kg of CO²e saved annually
• £13,300 annual reduction in waste value

Education and Sustainability

Education is the cornerstone of St. Faith’s sustainability efforts. The data gathered from the Winnow system isn’t confined to the kitchen—it’s brought into the classroom. School assemblies feature lessons on the environmental impact of food waste, supported by real data from their own school. The eco committee, comprised of passionate students, uses this data to spearhead various sustainability initiatives. This hands-on learning experience fosters a deeper understanding of sustainability, encouraging students to actively participate in waste reduction.

Future Goals

Looking ahead, St. Faith's is committed to continuing its reduction of food waste and sharing its successes with the school community. The school is exploring energy-efficient equipment and has recently installed solar panels above the kitchen to power their operations sustainably.

Conclusion

St. Faith's School exemplifies how educational institutions can lead by example in sustainability. By leveraging Winnow’s AI technology and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, the school sets a new standard in reducing food waste. Their ongoing efforts and innovative practices continue to create positive impacts, benefiting both the environment and the local community.

St. Faith's invites other educational institutions to join them in their journey towards a cleaner, greener future, demonstrating that sustainability can be effectively integrated into school operations and education.