School lunches sold to staff in Lund as "climate box" trial targets food waste

In Lund, Sweden, a novel approach is being tested to tackle the persistent issue of school lunch food waste. The municipality has launched a pilot program featuring a "climate box," allowing school staff to purchase any leftover food from the day's lunch for a modest price of 40 kronor. This initiative, implemented in a primary and a secondary school, seeks to give surplus meals a second life rather than discarding them. However, as Birgitta Mårtensson Asterland, Lund's meal service manager, points out, the ultimate aim is to eliminate waste entirely. The challenge lies in accurately predicting student consumption, especially with teenagers whose appetites can be unpredictable. Popular dishes, paradoxically, can lead to more waste as students overfill their plates. This program reflects a growing awareness in Sweden about sustainability and resource management, extending even to the school cafeteria. While selling leftovers is a practical step, the underlying goal remains to optimize food production and consumption to prevent waste from occurring in the first place.

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It is very good that the food is sold, but preferably we want nothing to be left over.