Sustainability
Working together for a green future
Sustainability is a particular concern for us at Studierendenwerk Münster. We are committed to reducing our ecological footprint and protecting the environment – be it through regional partnerships, reducing food waste or sustainable workwear. Here you can find an overview of our current measures and projects with which we want to make the future a little greener.
We also implement various measures for greater sustainability in our catering facilities.
Our awards and cooperations
PETA Vegan-friendly canteen
In 2024, Mensa Bispinghof received a 4-star award from PETA for its extensive vegan range. The Mensa am Ring was also awarded 3 out of 4 stars in 2023, making it one of the most vegan-friendly canteens in Germany.
Fairtrade city Münster Member
We are a proud member of the “Fairtrade City Münster” steering group.
Cooperation with foodsharing
Since 2017, we have been working with foodsharing e.V. to reduce food waste.
Sustainability in our canteens
Visiting the canteen? Bring your can with you!
No time to eat in the canteen? No problem! Just bring your own can and have your food packed to go.
Leftovers
Our kitchen managers plan the meals so efficiently that as little leftover food as possible is left over. Food that we are not allowed to reuse is saved through our cooperation with foodsharing e.V. The volunteer “food rescuers” regularly collect leftover food, which enables us to significantly reduce our food waste.
Work clothes
Our teams in the canteens and bistros wear work clothes that are certified with the Green Button – a state seal for sustainable textiles.
Drinking water dispenser
In the Mensa am Aasee there is already a drinking water dispenser, and we plan to equip other canteens and bistros with them soon.
Regional partners
We focus on regional products and work closely with partners who are all located within a 50 km radius of Münster:
- Potatoes from the Münsterland tuber
- Milk and dairy products from Hof Große Kintrup
- Bread and rolls from Cibaria
- Beef from Hof Keil
- Pork from Hof May
- Lemonades from liba
- Water and spritzers from Salvus and Sawell
- Fresh eggs from the Brüning Südhof farm
- Asparagus and strawberries from the Lütke Zutelgte farm
- Oat drinks from Ährenbrüder
- Beer from the Pinkus Brewery
Eating climate-consciously - simply with the KlimaTeller
The KlimaTeller allows you to choose your meals with climate-friendliness in mind and is designed to make it easier for you to eat in a more climate-friendly way in the canteen. The KlimaTeller can be recognized by the KlimaTeller logo on the menu.
A dish is awarded the KlimaTeller if it produces at least 50% less CO2e emissions than a comparable dish. This takes into account the CO2e emissions of all the ingredients on the plate that are produced from the field to the kitchen. This allows you to see at a glance which dishes are particularly climate-friendly.
What do the symbols mean?
With the 5-symbol rating system, you can see at a glance how climate-friendly a product, dish or individual ingredient is. The rating ranges from 5 = very good to 1 = very bad and shows you how high the CO2e emissions are compared to similar foods.
Where does the data come from?
The Eaternity Database (EDB) contains CO2e equivalents, values and unit processes for all common foods based on seasonality, cultivation methods, transportation, preservation and processing models.
Here, a greenhouse model was developed to determine the CO2e emissions associated with greenhouse heating in both organic and traditional agriculture. The individual values for CO2e are the result of a collaboration with scientists from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Quantis World Food Database, University of Zurich (UZH), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), ecoinvent v3.6, Agribalyse, Agrifootprint, peer-reviewed literature, reports (gray literature), extrapolated; or based on Eaternity’s own research, which was subsequently adjusted to ensure comparability.
The EDB is currently the largest and most comprehensive database that performs CO2e calculations for food products worldwide. It includes nutritional values, the water scarcity footprint and our Health Score to assess the health risk factors of your food consumption.
Further information on the Eaternity CO2 footprint can also be found at: https://eaternity.org/foodprint/
Frequently asked questions about Sustainability
How is the Studierendenwerk Münster committed to sustainability?
We are working hard to reduce our ecological footprint. This includes regional partnerships, avoiding food waste and using sustainable workwear. You can find more details in our current measures and projects to promote a greener future.
What awards has the Studierendenwerk Münster received?
Mensa Bispinghof was awarded 4 stars by PETA in 2024 for its vegan offering. The Mensa am Ring also received 3 out of 4 stars in 2023 and is one of the most vegan-friendly canteens in Germany. We are also a member of the “Fairtrade Town Münster” steering group and have been working with foodsharing e.V. since 2017 to reduce food waste.
How can I contribute to sustainability when I go to the canteen?
If you don’t have time to eat in the canteen, you can bring your own can and have your food packed to go. This reduces waste and supports our sustainability goals. Find out about the food on offer in advance and only take as much food as you can eat.
How is leftover food dealt with in the canteens?
Our kitchen managers plan the meals so that as little as possible is left over. Food that cannot be reused is saved through our partnership with foodsharing e.V., which significantly reduces our food waste.
Are there drinking water dispensers in the canteens?
Yes, in the Mensa am Aasee a drinking water dispenser has already been installed. We are also planning to equip other canteens and bistros with drinking water dispensers in order to reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles.
Which regional partners does the Studierendenwerk Münster supply?
We work together with various regional partners, including:
- Potatoes from the Münsterland tuber
- Milk and dairy products from Hof Große Kintrup
- Bread and rolls from Cibaria
- Beef from Hof Keil
- Pork from Hof May
- Fresh fruit and vegetables from Manss
- Chocolate bar from GEPA
- Lemonades from liba
- Water and spritzers from Salvus and Sawell
- Fresh eggs from Hof Brüning Südhoff
How can the carbon footprint of the menus be improved?
In collaboration with NAHhaft e.V. and eaternity, we are working to improve the carbon footprint of our menus in the canteens. These partnerships help us to make more environmentally friendly decisions when planning our menus.
How does the Studierendenwerk Münster promote sustainability in the daycare centers?
We integrate education for sustainable development (ESD) into the educational concept at both of our daycare centers. This promotes an early awareness of sustainable practices and environmental protection among the children.
How can I provide feedback or suggestions on the sustainability initiatives?
We are always open to your feedback and ideas for improving our sustainability initiatives. If you have any questions or suggestions for further environmentally friendly measures, please contact us. We look forward to your suggestions.
calvez@stw-muenster.de
+49 (0) 251 / 8379 - 622
