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ISS has launched a new low-carbon initiative into its primary school menus in the UK, working alongside partner Coolfood — an initiative run by World Resources Institute (WRI), a global non-profit — to cut food-related emissions across the education sector.
Having become the world’s first organisation to launch Coolfood-certified low-carbon meals in secondary school settings in 2024, ISS will now serve more than 50,000 plant-rich meals daily across almost 200 UK primary schools, including in London boroughs like Barnet, Ealing, Redbridge, and Southwark, as well as locations in Slough, across Essex and Yorkshire.
Coolfood uses science-based methods to help food service providers around the world lower the climate impact of the billions of meals they serve annually. ISS first signed up to the Coolfood Pledge in 2023, and began offering meals across a range of industries that boast a 38 per cent lower carbon emission rate than the average school dish.
In keeping with ISS’ ‘Small change, big impact’ approach, the plant-rich meals designed by ISS and Coolfood with young palates in mind, demonstrate how simple it is to make significant changes by effortlessly swapping choices, reducing the climate footprint of schools, and inspiring young people to help build a more sustainable future. Now, ISS menus will feature the Coolfood badge to help students quickly spot low-carbon options, empowering them to make these planet-friendly decisions for themselves seamlessly.
Zuzana Toth Orbanova, Brand Manager for Education at ISS UK & Ireland, said: “We’re thrilled to be building on our longstanding partnership with Coolfood by launching certified low carbon, plant rich meals in primary schools in the UK. It is incredibly exciting to be delivering an industry first through these meals in education, and we’re proud to now introduce even younger students to learnings on sustainable food.
“This initiative will above all help to reduce the climate footprint of schools and empower young people to help build a more sustainable future through the choices they make. We’re delighted with initial feedback and can’t wait to bring such a wide variety of delicious, plant-rich, and expertly crafted recipes to school tables nationwide.”
Jenny Arthur, Head of Coolfood, said: “Food is one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle climate change, and for young people in the UK, that change can start in the school canteen. With millions of school meals served every day, the lunch hall is a powerful place to shape habits, spark change, and celebrate flavour.”
The menus will officially launch across applicable primary schools in the UK on 3 November, 2025.
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