The public sector has several ways to promote sustainable food consumption. By using foods with low impacts on climate and biodiversity into public meals, it can play a pivotal role. Although it accounts for only a small percentage of Sweden’s total food consumption, the sector has substantial opportunities to spread knowledge about and encourage sustainable eating habits, particularly through school meals. Research (in Swedish) shows that students are generally accepting of climate-smart school menus, which is promising for increasing acceptance of sustainable food options beyond school settings.
The public sector also contributes to reducing food waste in public kitchens and cafeterias. In schools, students are often involved in efforts to minimize plate waste, which helps raise awareness about food waste beyond the school environment. Some municipalities work to reduce food waste at the wholesale level by purchasing raw materials that would otherwise be discarded, while others support local agriculture by buying shares in local farms [58] (In Swedish)
Local food production is not necessarily more ecologically sustainable, but it can contribute to social and economic sustainability by supporting local food culture and creating jobs within the local agricultural sector. Municipalities and regions can also use procurement to actively request sustainable products that may not yet be available on the market, helping to expand their availability in regular grocery stores.
About author:
Erik André
Municipal Phd Student, Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, and Environmental Administration, City of Gothenburg.
