Did you know that diners in the CZU canteen throw away around 60 kg of food every day? This equals about 750 portions per month, and more than 3.6 tons of food per semester – roughly the weight of an adult elephant!
What can we do about it?
Sustainability as an Everyday Choice
The campaign “Každý talíř se počítá / Every Plate Counts” was created as part of the Smart Canteen 2025 initiative, whose main goal is to draw attention to the issue of food waste and show that even small everyday decisions made by each diner can have a significant impact.
The authors of the campaign aim to change the way students, staff, and visitors of the university perceive food – not as something taken for granted, but as something valuable.
Every unfinished dish represents not only wasted food but also all the resources needed to produce it: soil, water, human effort, and energy.
“We wanted people to realize that even a small change can make a big difference,” explain the campaign authors. “When we take only as much food as we can actually eat, we help reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.”
A Student Initiative with Real Impact
The “Every Plate Counts” campaign originated as a student initiative and became one of the three award-winning projects in the Campus Sustainability Challenge 2025.
Vice-Rector for Sustainability Lenka Wimmerová notes:
“CZU has long supported activities that connect responsibility, education, and innovation. This project is an excellent example of how students can turn their ideas into concrete action.”
Social Responsibility Manager Anna Tvrdíková adds:
“In February 2025, the EU set an ambitious goal for Member States to achieve a 10% reduction in food waste in production and processing, and a 30% reduction in retail, gastronomy, and households, by 2030. Food waste is a major issue, so I am very pleased that students came up with this initiative on their own. I believe we will succeed in reducing the amount of food waste to a minimum.”
Every Plate Counts
During the winter semester of 2025/2026, with the support of the canteen operator Delirest, the number of meals served in the CZU canteen and the amount of food waste generated were monitored and recorded. This included all leftover food that diners placed on the conveyor belt after eating, from where it went straight into the trash bin.
In the upcoming summer semester, the measurements will continue – this time focusing on the impact of the information campaign against food waste. During this period, current results and the amount of food saved will be published regularly on this website.
The campaign serves as a personal challenge for everyone who eats in the university canteen and wants to support sustainability through their everyday behavior.
Support
The “Every Plate Counts” campaign has been created with the support of CZU (Halls of Residence and Refectory, Sustainability and Development Office) and Delirest services s.r.o.
Thank you.
Project authors
Vladimír Kořínek (QUALIM, 1st year)
Vojtěch Malecha (QUALIM, 1st year)
Related links:
Food waste reduction targets - Food Safety - European Commission