Sustainability Management and Communication in Federal Canteens

Sustainable nutrition is a key contributor to sustainable development. But how sustainable are the canteens at federal level?

Master's thesis by Svea Spieker
3rd semester, 2021
Supervising lecturer: Prof. Dr Torsten Schäfer

Problem and initial situation

The importance of sustainability in our society is growing as social and ecological problems become increasingly serious (cf. Schleer, 2014, p. 1). The Western diet has a significant influence on this: it is responsible for almost a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, various diet-related diseases, food waste, child labour and forced labour, … (cf. Koerber, 2014, p. 262; cf. Sieveking; Schomerus, 2020, p. 681; cf. Techniker Krankenkasse, 2017, p. 44; cf. Willett et al., 2019, p. 1 et seq.). However, as nutrition is essential for survival and the consumption of resources cannot therefore be completely avoided (cf. Liedtke; Speck; Mourabit, 2018, p. 55), the sustainable design of nutrition is essential. This process of transition towards a diet that respects health and planetary boundaries is referred to as a nutritional shift (cf. EAT, n.d., p. 5). In principle, all social actors – such as citizens, businesses and the government – need to participate (cf. Zimmermann, 2016, XVI) in order to bring about a successful nutritional change. The only question is: which part of the food value chain can be chosen as an effective starting point? Communal catering, in particular, has great potential to establish sustainable nutrition at a societal level (cf. Göbel et al., 2017, p. 17) and to bring about changes across the entire value chain (cf. Teitscheid et al., 2018, p. 17).

Research question

At the same time, the federal government, as the highest state authority acting in the public interest, also serves as a role model. Initial attempts to implement sustainability already exist, as demonstrated, for example, by Article 20a of the Basic Law, the German sustainability strategy or nutrition policy. However, the sustainability of the diet in federal institutions has so far only been examined in a small-scale data collection carried out by the Green Party in 2019 (see German Bundestag, 12 September 2019). On the initiative of the World Food Institute, the study – conducted as part of a Master’s thesis at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences – built on the data collected by Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and examined the extent to which the German Federal Government is acting as a role model:

How are sustainability and sustainability communication practised in the federal government’s canteens, and what opportunities are there for improvement with regard to the food revolution?

To investigate this research question, various sub-questions and hypotheses were defined:

Figure 1: Overview of research questions and hypotheses

Methods

In a multi-step procedure, a theoretical framework was first established. This was then used as the basis for determining the target and actual status of sustainability in federal canteens. In a final target-actual comparison, the sustainability of the federal canteens was assessed.

Figure 2: Research process of the Master's thesis and use of the methods

Results

The results of the study show that there is a significant need for action, particularly in the areas of food provision and sustainability communication. Whilst meat and fish appear on plates too frequently and in excessive quantities, vegetarian and vegan dishes are offered too infrequently. Furthermore, product quality should be improved with regard to the criteria of organic, regional, seasonal and fair trade. In terms of sustainability communication, the study shows that communication is not tailored specifically to the target group and that the full range of communication aspects, channels and measures is rarely utilised. This results in a great deal of untapped potential in federal canteens to positively influence diners’ decision-making processes.

Within the study, the best results were achieved in the area of sustainability management. Particularly in the areas of measures along the value chain, menu planning, the procurement of sustainable fish and meat, and the use of a sustainability management system, there is a high degree of alignment between current practice and targets. However, the canteens should focus on improving their procurement practices and make greater use of smaller, local suppliers and farmers in future. Increased certification of the canteens would also be beneficial. It is also a cause for concern that only one third of the canteens have sustainability standards prescribed by the relevant federal authority.

Figure 3: Need for action in the individual areas of food provision, sustainability management and sustainability communication

Conclusion

The numerous discrepancies show that, despite initial efforts, most federal canteens are not acting as sustainably as they should in terms of dietary change. It is commendable that canteen operators appear to be implementing all sustainability commitments of their own accord and are only rarely supported by binding requirements from the federal government. This finding is in line with the results of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen survey, but nevertheless raises the question: How can the federal government commit itself to taking responsibility for future generations under Article 20a of the Basic Law, work towards implementing the German sustainability strategy and advocate for healthy and sustainable global nutrition through its food policy, whilst at the same time failing to ensure sufficient sustainability in its own staff canteens?

The bottom line is that the German government is failing in its role in several respects through this contradictory behaviour: it is not acting as a social role model for dietary change and is not making a sufficient contribution to sustainability in its own canteens. Furthermore, the opportunity to educate its own staff – and thereby the wider population – as well as to establish universally applicable sustainability standards remains untapped. The federal government’s own learning process and knowledge acquisition regarding the implementation of sustainable nutrition are also being undermined.

Although the federal government has so far not shown sufficient commitment to sustainability in its own canteens, it is never too late to make a change. At federal level, the survey results can highlight the weaknesses and provide motivation to develop sustainability standards for the canteens, as well as support the canteens in implementing them. Canteen operators can use the results as a reference for an individual analysis of the current situation and the development of measures.

The following applies to all stakeholders: Every measure counts. Stay motivated – we can only do it together!

Bibliography

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