How technology reduces food wastage
With the newly renewed prevalence of the food wastage issue, it is becoming more apparent than ever that the education sector needs to do its part to reduce the environmental impact of its catering systems and promote sustainability in schools.
A report published by Wrap.Org discovered food wastage from both primary and secondary schools as a result of a multitude of issues, including:
- The absence of ordering systems leading to kitchens over-catering for an unknown number of students
- Students at the end of the queue not being able to receive their food of choice, causing them to choose a meal they did not want and later waste it
- Pupils not knowing what meal options were available to them
- Lack of flexibility and control over food combinations or menus
However, with the help of pre-ordering technology - which has seen an increase in demand in recent years - schools can crackdown on food wastage and make massive savings on their budgets with a tailored and streamlined pre-order system for pupils.
Prioritise sustainability
Sustainability is now a vital factor in the fight for the future of our planet. With food wastage accounting for almost a quarter of all artificial greenhouse gases, reducing the number of meals in landfills is vital.
In fact, in an article published by Greener Kirkcaldy, it was said that “if food wastage were a country, it would be ranked third after the US and China in terms of greenhouse gas production.†With a pre-order app, school catering teams can know ahead of time which quantity of each meal option to produce before anyone ever steps foot into a queue - creating an immediate reduction in overall food wastage in schools.
We recently discussed on our blog how the wastage of meals costs schools over £250 million each year, meaning there is more reason than ever to implement pre-ordering into your education environment.
How does pre-ordering reduce food wastage?
Pupils can order what they want before lunchtime, meaning a faster queuing system with the food already prepared. Therefore, over-catering is eliminated, with reduced contact with other students, which has renewed importance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pre-order apps are also highly customisable, meaning schools can alter every aspect of a meal or remove items to suit students' personal preferences. Customising lunch choices takes away unwanted ingredients pupils would otherwise waste, not to mention the benefits of data trend predictions that can prevent the ordering of unnecessary stock and advanced preparation.
Does pre-ordering sound like something that could benefit your school? Introduce pre-order technology as a seamless addition to your cashless catering system.
Learn more > https://www.amieducation.com/products-and-solutions
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