In the international education sector, schools and universities play a crucial role in shaping students’ habits and values, including their views on sustainable living. By implementing eco-friendly practices on campus and in school cafeterias, international institutions can significantly reduce their environmental impact while educating students about responsible consumption. Here are five great ways of encouraging sustainable dining on campus.

1. Source locally grown food

Partnering with local farmers and suppliers for school cafeteria ingredients can greatly reduce transportation emissions, not to mention support the local economy. In doing so, international schools can also showcase regional specialties, offering students an authentic taste of local culture while minimising their carbon footprint.

2. Offer plant-based meal options

Introducing a variety of plant-based dishes can not only cater to diverse dietary preferences, but reduce the campus’ overall meat consumption. This might include offering vegetarian or vegan versions of popular international dishes, which would appeal to a global student body.

3. Reduce food packaging waste

Implement reusable container programmes for takeaway meals and encourage the use of personal water bottles. An effective strategy is installing water refill stations across campus to minimise single-use plastic waste.

4. Implement food waste reduction strategies

Introduce portion control measures in school or university kitchens and make sure to compost food scraps. You could also organise workshops on sustainable cooking practices, teaching students how to prepare low-waste meals with local ingredients.

5. Educate and engage staff and students

Making sure everyone is on board with your institution’s sustainability mission is key. This can be done by integrating sustainability themes into learning curricula, as well as involving students and staff in projects, such as ‘Sustainable Food Week’, where they are encouraged to share dishes from different cultures prepared with eco-friendly practices.

These sustainable dining practices will allow language schools and universities to significantly reduce their environmental impact, while encouraging sustainable habits that international students can carry forward in their careers. Make sure to follow our weekly Sustainable Wednesday series for more top tips like these!

Written by Stephanie Clark