GINO! Let’s play not to waste food! A multistakeholder initiative to reduce food waste and foster plant-based diets in school canteens

Objectives The "Protecting the Environment" Mission of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo (FCSP) supports the ecological transition in Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d’Aosta through concrete projects, including initiatives in sustainable food systems, circular economy, and promotion of healthy diets. One of the projects funded under the “Re:actions” call for proposals is “GINO! Let’s play not to waste food!”, implemented by the Institute for Environment and Education Scholé Futuro - WEEC Network. Running from June 2023 to January 2024, the project aimed to reduce food waste in the canteens of all nursery and primary schools of the municipality of Grugliasco (near Turin), engaging over 2,000 students in educational activities promoting waste reduction and healthy eating. GINO! was developed through a broad partnership involving the Municipality of Grugliasco, the Italian National Research Council, a catering company, and the local public health authority. Methodology The project included the following activities: • a city-wide zero food waste challenge across all primary schools to engage children and raise awareness; • the measurement of food waste in school canteens over a three-week period, with active student involvement in all research phases —from collecting and weighing leftovers to data analysis—as part of a citizen science initiative (75 classes, 1,267 children, and 104 teachers involved); • the distribution of 2,552 food bags to all students to take home leftover bread and fruit, as a nudging action; • food education activities for students and teachers based on experiential, play-based methodologies facilitated by experts in environmental and food education. Results • Average daily per capita food waste amounted to 126 g, with more than 30% of meals ending up as waste. Average daily waste per class was 2.27 kg. Overall, primary schools in Grugliasco discarded 177.46 kg of food per day, corresponding to approximately 35.49 tonnes per year. Food waste was concentrated on specific foods particularly disliked by children—fruit, vegetables, and legumes. A significant improvement was observed during the final week of the “zero food waste challenge”. • The food bag proved to be an effective nudging tool, extending awareness of food waste from children to their families and helping to prevent waste, particularly of fruit. Conclusion • The GINO! project confirmed the central role of school canteens as key settings for promoting more sustainable food systems. • Innovative methodologies combining citizen science, nudging, and gamification proved effective in fostering change. • A multistakeholder approach, supported by strong political commitment contributed to creating a lasting legacy at the local level. • Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo (FCSP) funded the follow-up project “GINO & VIOLA” that expands the focus by combining food waste reduction with the promotion of more plant-based dietary habits. This initiative also extends its scope to include younger children, as well as their families. • Future implications: the creation of a multistakeholder alliance on food, involving actors working across different dimensions of the food system (the municipality, schools, third‑sector organizations engaged in food poverty, waste and education, local public health authority). This alliance represents a legacy of the GINO project and lays the groundwork for a collaborative space dedicated to developing local food policies. Some actors within this ecosystem have applied for and secured funding to work on a new project funded by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo (through the call “Towards local food policies: territorial food systems and sustainability to address food poverty”) focused on local food policies.