Sustainable school catering

As the school authority, the city of Bochum is responsible for the implementation of school catering. The project aims to promote healthy and sustainable school catering and to fundamentally change eating habits in the pilot schools through the involvement of the schools and their school communities. Together with four secondary schools in Bochum, an individual catering concept is to be developed that is adapted to the internal needs and framework conditions of the participating schools.

The following topics, among others, should be part of the catering concepts:

Catering offer with implementation of the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE), including the use of organically produced and regional foods
Integration of the whole-school approach
Measures to prevent food waste
Implementation of nudging measures (impulses for healthier or more sustainable decisions without coercion)
Raising awareness of nutrition education in the classroom

By raising awareness of and a more conscious approach to nutrition and food in terms of climate and environmental protection, resource consumption, but also in terms of health, performance and social participation, the school community helps to shape a strong Bochum worth living in through the sustainable orientation of school catering.

The binding selection of schools will take place by September 30, 2025.
The concepts and elements for sustainable school catering are to be developed in the 2025/2026 school year. The pilot phase with testing of the developed concepts is planned for the 2026/2027 school year.

Oliver Müller
Management of the project
e-mail: OMueller@bochum.de
Telephone: 0234 910 2053
Raimund Bogatzki
Employees
e-mail: RBogatzki@bochum.de
Telephone: 0234 910 1949
Anette Eichler
Employee
e-mail: AEichler@bochum.de
Telephone: 0234 910 3864
Sonja Barsig
Employee
e-mail: SBarsig@bochum.de
Telephone: 0234 910 3166
Karen Biesgen
Employee
e-mail: KBiesgen@bochum.de
Telephone: 0234 910 1626

Address: Universitätsstr. 43-49, 44789 Bochum

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is sustainable school catering?

Sustainable school catering aims to ensure a healthy and environmentally friendly diet for pupils.

What are the aims of the "Sustainable school catering" pilot project?

The pilot project "Sustainable school catering" pursues several key objectives in order to ensure a healthy and environmentally friendly diet in the Bochum schools involved in the project.

Health promotion:

Providing balanced and nutritious meals that meet the needs of children and young people
Promotion of fresh, seasonal and regional foods

Ecological sustainability:

Reducing food waste through efficient planning and preparation
Use of organically grown and fair trade products

Social aspects:

Creating a pleasant dining atmosphere that encourages social interaction
Involving pupils in the design of the catering, for example through student companies

Economic sustainability:

Efficient use of resources and cost management to make catering financially viable in the long term

These goals help to ensure that school meals are not only healthy, but also make a positive contribution to environmental protection and social justice. In addition, the participatory co-design and thus target group-oriented design promotes the conversion of catering at Bochum's educational institutions to a plannable and sustainable catering system.

What is education for sustainable development (ESD) in schools?

ESD in schools stands for a holistic educational concept that involves all people in a school community - pupils, parents, teachers and other stakeholders - and enables them to implement future-oriented and sustainable thinking and action in everyday school life.

Why is ESD important?

ESD promotes an understanding of global challenges such as climate change, poverty and social injustice and supports the development of sustainable solutions. All participants contribute to responsibly shaping a future-oriented and sustainable living environment.

What is the "Whole School Approach"?

ESD is realized through the implementation of the "Whole School Approach" (WSA) in the sense of a holistic school and teaching development approach in schools of all types. WSA aims to anchor sustainability in all areas of school life and actively involve the entire school community in decisions and development processes.

This also includes decision-making processes in the area of school catering, such as the introduction of sustainable and healthy catering options, campaigns against food waste and ESD projects on the topic of "healthy and sustainable nutrition". The aim is to develop a future-oriented learning space "school" that raises awareness of a sustainability-oriented teaching and learning culture in the school community.