Food waste is a significant issue for the Baltic Sea Region. Currently, a large amount of food is wasted on an annual basis, with over 50 kg per capita in Lithuania and 4.8 million tons in Poland. Schools play a crucial role in combating food waste, as they are major venues where significant volumes of food waste are generated. For example, in Finland, it has been observed that 17% of the food prepared in school canteens is wasted. Additionally, 11.3% of the food waste occurs during the serving of meals. Finally, in Poland and Lithuania, food waste also poses a significant challenge to schools. Closing the food waste loop in school food value chains has the economic potential, e.g. by valorising the food waste and converting it into valuable products such as compost.

Project improves waste separation at the source in schools and canteens, thus facilitating the better management and reduction of bio-waste. FoodLoops designs initiatives that promote waste separation at the school canteen level and also contributes to the educational purposes by making school staff key actors in waste reduction. By increasing the demand for bio-waste-based fertilizers the project assists farmers in utilizing organic waste as a resource, promoting sustainable agricultural practice. For stakeholders involved in waste management, this project supports inclusive governance of waste, which builds consensus, improves acceptance and enhances consumers´ participation in waste sorting.

The FoodLoops project develops a variety of solutions to address barriers across different stakeholders, particularly in the context of the food value chain, for example:

1 Manual on Local Cooperation for Circular Bio-Waste:

This manual serves as a guide to foster cooperation among stakeholders within the local food waste value chain. It aims to enhance mutual understanding of stakeholders' motivations and pain points, identify a common goal, and jointly develop solutions. The manual includes case studies that address the food waste value chain and it highlights activities, challenges and solutions in each locality or region.

2 Workshops for Co-developing Solution Implementation Pathways:

The project organizes workshops to build trust and cooperation amongst key stakeholders such as municipalities, schools, and caterers. These workshops focus on co-developing concrete pathways to overcome barriers through improved cooperation, thereby addressing both operational and situational drivers of food waste in school canteens.

3 Facilitating Replication and Scaling of Solutions:

FoodLoops facilitates the replication of successful models and solutions across the Baltic Sea Region. This includes training and workshops that enable stakeholders from various sectors to adopt and adapt solutions for local implementation, aimed at improving the management and valorization of bio-waste.

These solutions target a systematic approach to reducing food waste through enhanced cooperation and engagement across the food value chain, from production to consumption, focusing particularly on school settings and local communities.

The manual on cooperation for circular bio-waste is currently in preparation and will support the municipalities, educators, farmers and caterers in fostering cooperation at the local level on circular bio-waste. The manual will be tested within vocational training institutes as well as associated organizations involved in the FoodLoops project during validation workshops at the beginning of the year 2025. Furthermore, the transnational workshops will facilitate the sharing of experiences from project target countries to other European countries.

The Inter-reg BSR generously finances the transition of the BSR economies toward circular bio-economies and FoodLoops project is one example of concrete projects facilitating this transition.