DEEJAYS: Zero Waste Catering for Schools

Deejays catering provides zero waste catering for schools in New Zealand. They package their food in certified compostable packaging made by BioPak and partner with Compost Connect to ensure all of the packaging their food comes in is returned back to the earth via compost partners. Catering waste can be huge, but it was important to Deejays that they found a packaging option that mitigate this or create no waste at all. By partnering with Compost Connect, Deejays and Papatoetoe East School in Auckland were able to not only create zero waste at lunchtime, but also teach their students the importance of composting as well. If you’re a school or university that would like to tackle lunchtime food waste, we’ll tell you how this can easily be achieved.

Deejays catering staff preparing schools lunches using BioPak packaging

The Importance of School Catering

In New Zealand, nutrition is an important part of a child’s day. Every week, Deejay’s school catering company provides 44,000 meals into the Ka Ora Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme. This programme aims to reduce food insecurity by providing access to a nutritious lunch in school every day.

Around one in five children in New Zealand live in households that struggle to put enough good-quality food on the table. In communities facing greater socio-economic barriers, 40% of parents run out of food sometimes or often. (Source).

Providing consistent lunches for children in school can improve their concentration, behvahiour, school achievement and overall well being. If you think it about it, it’s quite hard to work or think when you’re hungry!

Kids sitting around table eating sandwiches at lunch time at Henry Hill School, Napier

How to Combat Catering Waste

The downside to catering is that rather than each child bringing a packed lunch in reusable containers, each lunch is provided in a single-use container which can sometimes create a lot of waste– but not with BioPak!

Finding a waste free catering service was important for Papatoetoe East School as they teach their students about sustainability and recycling through their enviro program. BioPak and Compost Connect allows students to compost their food containers and cutlery after eating, making it easy to integrate their learning and make it relatable for them. With the catering company, packaging supplier and school all on board, you can consider catering food waste history!

If you are a catering company looking to make a difference, contact our team today for a quote.

Tips On How To Be A Sustainable Catering Company

There are a few other things that you can do to improve the sustainability of your catering company.

Mandating Compostable Packaging

Make a commitment to switching all of your packaging over to a compostable alternative. Single-use plastic bans are imminent, so you’ll be doing yourself a favour by ditching any plastic packaging early.

Connect With A Commercial Composting Service

Once you’ve made the switch to compostable packaging, make the disposal process for your customers seamless. Connect with a local commercial compost facility to find out the process of incorporating easy pick up and disposal for your customers. You can find a compost partner through BioPak’s composting initiative Compost Connect.

Jeffries food organics truck unloading compost bin

Provice Educational Material for Your Customers

If you want your customers to do the right thing and compost your packaging, you must first let them know this is possible. Whether you’re catering for a school, office or party, create educational material that shows the whole lifecycle of your products, explaining that any leftovers, foodscraps and the packaging can be composted. You can even create a simplified version for teachers and kids which can be incorporated into their lessons. Tell your customers about everything you are doing to be a more sustainable catering business. This could be using compostable packaging, using solar panels or green energy, or even using local fruit and vegetables in your meals. All of these things will show why you are the best catering company to choose from.

Download your free educational printables to hang in your classroom or around the school.