Food waste
Reducing food waste is a key factor in cutting carbon emissions. This requires kitchens to be precise and to work actively with customers to reduce the amount of food left on plates.
When it comes to managing food waste, professional demand forecasting and collaboration with the customer are key.
If there are any leftovers from the special meal, staff at all our nurseries and schools can buy some to take home.
The commercial kitchens Koukun Helmi and Hatanpää, along with a few large school kitchens, donate surplus food to food aid schemes. At Koukun Helmi and in schools, the partner is the Food Bank run by the diaconal work of the Evangelical Lutheran parishes, which coordinates the distribution of food aid. Hatanpää donates the surplus food to the Huoltsu day centre.
Track food waste
How much food is left on plates in Tampere’s schools and educational institutions?
The report below shows the amount of food left on plates at every school and educational institution in Tampere.
- The report lists the schools that have a Voimia kitchen.
- You can view individual schools for different time periods.
- You can also compare the dropout rate in relation to pupil numbers or compare schools with one another.
Click the double-headed arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the report to open it in full-screen mode. Click the school’s name to view more detailed information!
How much is a lot of wastage?
The result cannot be zero, as the weight figures include everything that goes into the organic waste bin: in addition to food, this includes apple cores, banana skins and paper napkins. The report shows the quantities weighed and recorded by Voimia staff. If your school generates less than 10 grams of waste per diner, you can be proud of the result! Two marshmallows or one medium-sized strawberry weigh about 10 grams.
The amounts may seem small, but over the course of a year they add up to a considerable number of kilograms. In 2023, a total of around 40,000 kg of food was left uneaten on plates in schools and educational institutions in Tampere.
The most important thing is to eat properly
Remember, there are more important things than just the amount of food waste! The most important thing is to eat well, try new flavours and get used to them. Only food you’ve eaten will nourish you and keep you going all day long. Why not try a little of both options first, and then go back for more?
