EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub

Food waste reduction remains a key sustainability goal for Belgian hospitals. While no formal 2024 impact assessment has been conducted due to the integration of Foodwin into Rikoto, previous findings from 2023 still hold value. Hospitals have maintained their commitment, with nearly half of large-scale kitchens measuring food waste, leading to an average reduction of 35% when targeted actions are implemented. 
A survey involving seventeen hospitals found that 70% measure food waste, with an average of 52,000 kg wasted annually—over 20% of total production. Hospitals serve an average of 1,000 meals per day, and patient plate waste remains the biggest challenge. To combat waste, hospitals have implemented several interventions, including adjusting portion sizes, offering half portions, modifying standard trays, using appropriate serving utensils, standardizing recipes, and raising awareness among staff. Additional strategies include reducing reserve meals, implementing reservation systems in staff restaurants, ensuring timely discharge notifications, repurposing leftovers, and conducting patient surveys. Specific initiatives, such as coffee corners on wards, bread buffet carts, and meal quality improvements, have also been tested. 
These efforts have yielded significant results, with hospitals achieving an average 30% reduction in food waste, translating into cost savings of approximately €45,000 per year. This freed-up budget is often reinvested in new equipment, such as bread buffet carts, further enhancing waste reduction efforts. 
Despite the absence of a structured 2024 impact assessment, the multiplier effect of demo-cases has been evident. At the "Studiedag Duurzame Zorg" event in October 2023, hospitals showcased their progress, receiving enthusiastic responses. Additionally, new projects have been initiated in psychiatric hospitals, highlighting continued engagement. 
Looking ahead, the plan remains to conduct a formal impact assessment once Foodwin's integration into Rikoto is complete. This will provide a comprehensive evaluation of hospital food waste reduction efforts and their long-term sustainability. In the meantime, ongoing projects underscore the lasting influence of these initiatives in the healthcare sector.