The environmental benefits of vegetarian meals served in French school canteens

With a billion meals served each year in France, school catering has major repercussions not only on children’s eating habits but also on the agricultural world which produces the food products and, by extension, on all of the population and the environment.

Based on data from the PARCEL tool it has developed, BASIC has analysed the effects of the introduction of vegetarian menus on climate change, water pollution and abstraction, and the risks of deforestation. Assuming that the EGAlim law is fully applied¹ and that a mandatory weekly vegetarian menu is served to all pupils from kindergarten to high school, the impacts would already be significant:

• 14% to 19% reduction in greenhouse gases emitted to produce the food served in canteens;
• 16% to 18% reduction in water pollution hidden costs linked to agricultural activities that supply the canteens;
• 8% to 11% reduction in water consumption linked to agricultural production of the food in canteens;
• 22% to 27% reduction in imports of feed for farm animals in France (and therefore a reduction in the associated risks of imported deforestation).

In addition, the introduction of 2 vegetarian menus per week would also enable:

• 28% to 38% reduction in greenhouse gas emitted to produce food in canteens;
• 41% to 51% reduction in imports of feed for farm animals (and therefore a reduction in the associated risk of imported deforestation).

To read the full results of the study, click on the folllowing link: Menus végétariens dans les cantines : quels impacts pour la planète ?

In the French medias:

• Radio show RMC Matin : “Un rapport de Greenpeace détaille l’impact positif sur la planète des menus végétariens“
• BFM TV : “Les effets impressionnants des menus végétariens imposés à la cantine sur les émissions de gaz à effet de serre“
• Cnews television : “Voici l’impact réel des menus végétariens à la cantine sur les émissions de CO2“
• Le Monde : “Menus végétariens dans les cantines : des retombées positives pour l’environnement“
• Le Figaro Etudiant : “Cantines : Greenpeace exige de passer à deux menus végétariens par semaine“
• Ouest France : “Cantines scolaires. Il faut passer à deux menus végétariens par semaine, estime Greenpeace“
• Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace : “Cantines : Greenpeace réclame deux menus végétariens par semaine“
• Le Courrier Picard : “Greenpeace réclame deux menus végétariens par semaine dans les cantines scolaires“
• ConsoGlobe : “Alimentation : les menus végétariens à la cantine font du bien à la planète“
• L’Info Durable : “Cantines scolaires : Greenpeace demande deux menus végétariens par semaine“

 

¹ Under the EGAlim law, since November 2019, all French school canteens must offer their students at least one vegetarian meal per week. For the study, it was considered that 100% of canteens apply the law.