The Every Plate Counts awareness campaign, implemented during the 2025/2026 summer semester at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) canteen, contributed to a reduction of 450 kilograms of food waste. This amount is equivalent to approximately 1,120 to 1,290 meal portions that were prevented from ending up as waste. The success of the initiative also attracted the attention of the canteen’s operator, Delirest, which is now considering the adoption of the campaign's educational materials across its dining facilities throughout the Czech Republic.
The campaign was developed by Vojtěch Malecha and Vladimír Kořínek, students of the Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources at CZU, as part of the student competition Campus Sustainability Challenge. The project was supported by the Sustainability Office of the CZU Rectorate, in cooperation with the CZU Halls of Residence and Refectory and Delirest.
The objective of this student-led initiative was to raise awareness of food waste and provide diners with practical guidance on how to reduce it. The campaign reached members of the university community through a broad range of communication channels, including table displays in the canteen, digital screens and information totems across the campus, the university intranet, the Sustainability Office website, and the university podcast.
Measurable Impact Despite Comparable Attendance Levels
The evaluation of the campaign is based on data provided by the Delirest. For the purpose of a meaningful comparison, the period from February to April 2025 was compared with the corresponding period in 2026.
Canteen attendance remained largely consistent year on year. Between February and April 2025, a total of 65,530 lunches were served, compared with 63,130 lunches during the same period in 2026, representing a decline of less than 4 %. Despite these comparable attendance figures, the canteen generated 450 kilograms less food waste in 2026.
Awareness-Raising That Delivers Results
The campaign's outcomes demonstrate that awareness-raising initiatives can be highly effective within a university environment. Even relatively small changes in individual behaviour can generate substantial collective benefits and significantly reduce food waste.
This achievement would not have been possible without a collaborative effort. In addition to the initiative and commitment of the student authors, the project benefited from the support of the Sustainability Office of the CZU Rectorate, the cooperation of the CZU Halls of Residence and Refectory, and Delirest. Above all, it was made possible by the responsible approach of the diners themselves, whose actions confirmed that every plate truly counts.
Vojtěch Malecha and Vladimír Kořínek Authors of the Every Plate Counts campaign