"Samen eten we Amsterdam gezond, duurzaam en eerlijk” (“Together we eat Amsterdam healthy, sustainable and fair") — that is the name of the covenant recently signed by Amsterdam UMC and 11 other major Amsterdam-based organisations. Together, they are committing to working towards a healthier, more sustainable and fairer food system in the city.
Driving positive change through food
Every day, the twelve organisations serve at least 35,000 meals — from breakfast to dinner — in locations across Amsterdam, including hospitals, nursing homes, university canteens, municipal buildings, and libraries. This gives them a unique opportunity — and responsibility — to positively influence what people eat.
By collaborating and setting clear guidelines for procurement and food supply, the covenant aims to create a food environment where the healthy and sustainable choice becomes the easy choice.
Goals for 2030
The organisations have agreed to work towards the following goals by 2030:
- At least 60% of all proteins served are plant-based
- 80% of the food offered meets the nutrition standards of the Dutch Nutrition Center (Voedingcentrum)
- At least 25% of all purchased food is organic
- Food waste is reduced by 50% compared to 2015 levels
AGEM researcher involved in the initiative
Principal Investigator Hinke Kruizenga, theme leader of Sustainable Eating at Amsterdam UMC and researcher at AGEM, was present at the official signing of the covenant. She will contribute to achieving these ambitious goals by fostering collaboration and facilitating knowledge exchange between the participating organisations.
This initiative was launched by the City of Amsterdam and is supported by the EU project FoodCLIC, in collaboration with the Athena Institute (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and the network Voedsel Verbindt. Alongside Amsterdam UMC, other signatories include Amsta, Amstelring, Arkin, BovenIJ hospital, Cordaan, Green Business Club Zuidas, GVB, the Amsterdam Public Library, the University of Amsterdam & Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Together, these organisations are taking an important step towards a more sustainable and healthy future for the city of Amsterdam.
More information
Take a look on the complete covenant online.