Some public kitchens across the Nordic region already play a special role in driving the sector towards a more sustainable and healthier practice. Public kitchens have a unique standing. They are often adherent to guidelines and strategic goals set in a political context with a high expectance for compliance. This means that, if conditions are right, public meal providers – in wide-ranging settings such as schools, daycare institutions, cultural institutions, elder care homes and hospitals – can be particularly ambitious when it comes to sustainability, cooking according to dietary guidelines, sourcing locally and regionally, using meals as an educational setting, and other valuable goals. In other words, public kitchens can be leaders.
Taking on such a role is not something that just happens, however. Public kitchens generally face many challenges in terms of budgets, facilities, staffing and longstanding practices that can be difficult to change. In order to empower public kitchens to take on this role, we propose a cross-Nordic effort to develop an action plan for public kitchens to function as a common reference point and resource.
The action plan would provide clear guidance on feasible steps that can be taken in public kitchens to improve sustainability, seasonality, taste, health, hospitality, community and working conditions. The basis for the development of this is a compilation of best practices from pioneering efforts in different Nordic countries in combination with the NNR, the values of the Nordic Kitchen Manifesto as well as national sustainability goals. The action plan should be endorsed by the Nordic governments.
Relevant stakeholders and partners involved in realising this initiative include governments, trade unions, industry associations, agricultural and aquaculture associations, NGOs and companies working with consulting in the kitchen industry, culinary schools, and training programmes.
The implementation of the plan should be supported by educational programmes in the individual countries.