Circular catering services (Plavinu, Latvia)

Incorporating circular principles into public procurement policies can help stimulate local food production that’s produced and retailed sustainably. The municipality of Plavinu, Latvia aims to incorporate circular principles in the catering service of its local schools. In addition to sustainability, the strategy also addresses nutrition and health concerns. It bans the use of disposable plastic packaging, while requiring the use of seasonal produce and setting minimum levels for organic production of dairy, for example. Under the strategy, service providers are also required to sort waste according to waste managers’ instructions.

It is expected that the initiative will significantly reduce packaging and food waste. The latter can be achieved by educating pupils, adjusting menus and allowing more flexibility with portion size. The shift towards more organic sources of milk is expected to reduce the use of pesticides for animal feed as well as increase animal welfare standards.