Building Circular and Innovative Schools Through a No-Food-Waste, Farm-to-Fork Approach

Globally, food waste presents a huge challenge to global sustainability agendas — approximately one-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted, raising environmental concerns. The UN SDG Goal 12 aims to reduce food waste by 50 percent and encourage transition towards a more circular and sustainable food system. Schools present an opportunity for food-waste intervention given their involvement in procurement, preparation, consumption, and waste management processes, mirroring wider food supply chains.

Primary schools in England generate approximately 68,000 tonnes of food waste per year, with a significant proportion avoidable, costing the sector over £200 million annually. Overall, the education sector generates 80,000 tonnes of food waste.

The Simpler Recycling food waste legislation 2026 by the UK government also reinforces separation of food waste and repurposing of food waste as a resource. Primary schools can function as micro-sites for exploring circular economy and sustainability transitions advanced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. However, empirical research on the application of circular economy principles within primary school food environments remains limited. Circular economy reduces planned obsolescence, encouraging reuse of waste — in this context, organic waste — including behavioural change and policy shift.