Posted on: Friday 26 September 2025
The council’s school catering team has won a national award for its climate-friendly approach to school meals.
The team has worked with experts to reduce its carbon emissions by switching to local ingredients, reducing food waste, reducing kitchen energy use and switching to electric vehicles.
Since 2023, they have reduced the service’s carbon emissions by eight per cent and cut emissions per kilogram of food by 32 per cent – despite a 35 per cent increase in meals.
Last week, they were given the award for Best Climate Action/Decarbonisation initiative by APSE – the Association for Public Sector Excellence.
Councillor Sue Morgan, Executive member for Sustainability and Waste, said: “We’re passionate about reducing waste and our environmental impact in Torfaen, and the catering team are a shining example of this.
“Their work shows how local action can make a big difference and I’m pleased that so many schools have also got involved by working to reduce food waste in their canteens.”
Since 2023, primary schools have taken part in a waste warriors' competition which is run by the service – one of the many ways they get schools involved in reducing their impact on climate change.
Torfaen is the first school catering service in Wales to carry out this level of carbon analysis and have moved from the ninth highest for emissions to the fourth lowest in the UK.
The team’s achievements have already gained national attention.
In 2023 the catering team was shortlisted for a major UK sustainability award — alongside big names like BUPA, Wagamama, and Coca-Cola.
Looking ahead, the team plans to continue improving recipes and re-engage with the University of Edinburgh to measure future progress.
Their Sustainable School Meals Roadmap is publicly available and tracks their journey toward greener school meals.
Find out more about the council’s climate change pledge.