Ferencváros, a district of Budapest (Hungary) is piloting a tender to implement buffet style catering in all its schools, taking into account social inclusion, food education, nutrition improvement and waste reduction. To develop and implement the tender, Ferencváros sought the help of the SchoolFood4Change team that had already been supporting some schools in the Hungarian capital by incorporating sustainability criteria in tenders for food catering.
The pilot is currently being rolled out across two schools, reaching more than 650 students. It gives students greater choice by offering more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than standard public catering regulations require. Students also benefit from seasonal salad bars and dedicated plant-based meal days.
Putting the Whole School Food Approach into Full Practice
However, the new tender doesn’t only focus on the food, but also on the whole supply chain and its environmental impact, perfectly applying our Whole School Food Approach. To reduce emissions all food will be delivered with electric vehicles, while meals are delivered in environmentally sustainable packaging. Moreover, the food is to be served in a space resembling a self-service restaurant where students learn to make informed food choices, try new tastes and respect what is on their plate. As a result, children’s dietary needs can be fulfilled without compromising on other environmental issues.
Based on the results of a market dialogue conducted between the school and the suppliers, the biggest challenge in implementing the tender was defining the environmentally friendly packaging. Storing and transporting meals for children with special needs (e.g. celiacs and severe allergies) proved to be difficult, however, thanks to a detailed feasibility study and the strong commitment from the municipal side, the tender managed to integrate both social and sustainable criteria, making an impact by providing better value for money.
Congratulations from SchoolFood4Change
Congratulations to our Budapest partners on this fantastic achievement! The Ferencváros tender is a great example of what dedicated municipalities can accomplish when sustainability and children’s wellbeing go hand in hand. Ambitious, inclusive, and environmentally responsible school food procurement is not just possible, it is replicable. We are thrilled to see the Whole School Food Approach come to life in such a meaningful way. Well done, Budapest!