Stuttgart is looking for the most climate-friendly canteen in town

The food people eat during the day can have an enormous impact on their habits at home

Last week, local authorities in Stuttgart announced a new contest – the city is looking for the most climate-friendly canteen. Submissions are open to both public canteens (like school cafeterias) and private ones with the minimum requirement of serving 200 meals a day on average in the last three years.

Additionally, their ‘climate-friendliness’ will be judged based on the quality of their meals, their seasonality and how regional they are. Venues can apply until 13 March, while the winners will be competing for prestige and a prize pool of 50,000 euros.

The city has earmarked 25,000 euros for the winners and the two runner-ups can receive 12,500 each. The winning submissions will be announced during a special award ceremony in City Hall.

Canteens can shape food habits

Although canteens are usually used during the day, when people are at work or school, they can shape food habits in a broader sense. This is because a preferred canteen is a part of someone’s daily routine and can affect their preferences for food at home as well.

Company catering, which feeds many people every day, can set a strong example for climate protection. According to the city, these providers have a social responsibility and the opportunity to act as role models.

With the Klimafreundlichste Kantine, as the initiative is known in German, Stuttgart wants to draw more attention to how food can impact the environment.

Some of the biggest climate culprits in the catering sector are non-essential and non-regional products which have long transport routes, and thus a much bigger CO2 footprint.  In turn, some of the positive factors related to food products include the more efficient use of land, shorter transport routes and lower nitrate pollution of the soil and water.