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Plastic Free Lunch Day was ​started by students in Cafeteria Culture's program at PS 15 in Brooklyn!
CafCu in partnership with USFA
Hear from some of the cities that joined us in November!
⬇︎  Watch our new Plastic Free Lunch Day USA celebration video ⬇︎
Watch video on Vimeo->
Get readu with our free resources ⬇︎​
Join public school districts in
New York City, Dallas, San Diego, Portland Ore, Chicago (Aramark schools), and hundreds of schools across for 
the next  Plastic Free Lunch Day USA
​ on April 19, 2023
​
Is your school/school district on board?
Free Resources for School Food Service Teams ->
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Plastic Free Lunch Day overview - 1-pager
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  ⬇︎  Our free PFLD resources are below ⬇︎
Movie, Lessons, Activities, Flyers, Letter Templates, & more!
​

Teachers & School Leaders, 
4 steps for plastic-free action & engagement
 Click on each step  (scroll down for the complete Resource Checklist)

1. LEARN ABOUT THE PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEM
A: Show the "Get Ready" video and use our  "Why Plastic Free Lunch Day? The Problem with Plastic" overview slides with discussion prompts. Get your students excited to be a part of a plastic free action day! 
B:  Sign up for a free screening of
​our award winning movie,
Microplastic Madness
for your classroom, school. or club,
FREE for all K-12 public schools that lead
a plastic-free action before April 30, 2023.!

Microplastic Madness movie - free link request ->
You will receive the link automatically after completing this short form.
​ Plastic threatens health & environment. And many plastics are unnecessary. That means we don’t have to use them! Screen our award-winning student-led movie Microplastic Madness  in your school or classroom. 
 Watch the movie trailer here ->
  • ​​​Screen the movie (76 minutes) with your class, Green Team, club or entire school to educate and inspire action! Choose to watch in 2, 3, or 5 parts, or show the entire movie at once.
  • Use our free Movie Companion Guide & Discussion Questions.​
C: Do an easy "Plastic Search" in your cafeteria!

Single-use PLASTIC SEARCH, an easy observation activity
- Individual student activity for lunch period with a follow-up lesson plan (Lesson Plan  ​(PDF, 3 pages with Teacher Notes) and Worksheet   (PDF, 1 page)​
2. Make a PLAN 
​Meet with your principal and school food manager to find out if your school is participating on April 19th. If not, request a Plastic Free Lunch Day or a plastic free action day at your school. 

Here are some ideas: (scroll down to "Easy Plastic Free Actions" a complete list)
  • Plastic Free Lunch Day:  On one day, eliminate all lunchtime single-use plastics (if your school is not already participating on April 19, 2023)
  • Plastic Free ____ Day - Simplify the day with a focus on reducing just one kind of single-use plastic packaging, such as a:
       -- straws (students teach students:  do we need them?)
       -- condiment packets (dispense from squeeze bottles or spoon/ladle onto student plates)
       -- utensils (bring utensils from home or choose a hand-held food menu)
       -- chip bags (serve by "bulk" onto student plates)
       -- water cups (bring water bottles from home/ hold a fundraiser to purchase)
  • ​Lead a #SkipTheStuff" day or "Take Only What You Need Day" - On one day, dispense utensils, napkins, and other single-use items by request only instead of automatically serving with each meal (printable posters below).
  • Lead a plastic free campaign to inform your school community about the plastic pollution problem and to persuade your community to reduce single-use plastics.​
         - Encourage plastic-free home and store bought lunch -make signs 
         - Promote reusables with a "Bring Your Own" campaign for water bottles, utensils, napkins, and more​ 

  • Meet with your school food manager to discuss reducing single-use plastics on one Plastic Free Lunch Day and then every day. Suggestions can include:
        - Hand out "Utensils by request only" every day
        - Provide dressings & condiments in bulk (such as refillable pump jars) rather that in individual packages 
        - Wrap sandwiches in bulk rather that individually every day
        - Make all pizza menus days plastic-free
        - Make all "hand-held" menu days (i.e. burger, taco, burrito, egg roll) plastic free days too!
       -  Offer more menu items that do not require utensils (burrito, burger, tacos, oranges, bananas)
3. PROMOTE A PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY 
    or a plastic free Action
  • Create signs  (or print out the signs in Resources" below) and post them  around the school and in the cafeteria.
  • Ask for a slot during Morning Announcements to explain the idea & plan. 
  • Arrange for students to visit all classrooms to explain the idea & plan to other students.
  • Present at a PTA meeting.  Ask parents to support school (not home) lunches on the action day.
  • Request that Plastic Free Lunch Day be added to the school calendar.
  • Set up an info-table in the cafeteria.
  • Set up a sorting station (or improve the ones that already exist) and monitor the stations to increase awareness (use our SORT2save/Cafeteria Ranger resources for setting up sorting stations with student monitors).
(more ideas below: "Easy Plastic Free (Lunch) Actions")
4. COLLECT DATA & Publicize your success!

Take Photos (this is easy!)
  • Before and After Plastic Free Lunch Day, take photos of your plastic waste and SHARE to inspire others. 
  • Before and After any plastic reduction action, take photos of your plastic waste or recycling or compost (or all of them) and SHARE to inspire others.
**PHOTO HOW-TO: Take the photos at the end of a lunch period or all lunch periods.  Position the camera above each cafeteria trash, recycling, and compost bin so all items can be clearly seen. (If your school does not have Organics Collection, we still want to see the contents of all the other bins).
("After" means the day-of PLASTIC FREE LUNCH or another plastic reduction day, at the end of the lunch period)

Publicize your success with your before and after data & photos and
share with us to inspire others!

Or
Conduct a CAFETERIA PLASTIC SURVEY 
Students collect & count single-use plastic in their cafeteria
Instructions for Lunch or Breakfast Survey
​Why bother for just one day?
  • One action leads to more action!
  • Your school community can see what change looks like. 
  • A collective action builds community and creates a we-can-do mentality.
  • Students can collect before and after data/photos and use them to inform and persuade.
  • A collective action creates joy and relieves climate-anxiety.
​NYC Success story, started by students!
The first Plastic Free Lunch Day (PFLD) was spearheaded by fifty-six PS 15 fifth-graders in Red Hook Brooklyn, as portrayed in Cafeteria Culture’s award-winning student-led movie, Microplastic Madness.  On PFLD, students eliminated plastic utensils, drinking cups, and condiment packets.  Students conducted a before and after waste audit and on PFLD counted 558 fewer lunchtime single-use plastic items!

On May 16, 2022, Cafeteria Culture in partnership with NYC Department of Education (Office of Food and Nutrition Services & Office of Sustainability),
​and students led the first New York City-wide Plastic Free Lunch Day.
School lunches were prepared without plastic in over 750 NYC elementary schools!  It's Possible!​
See our blog posts for details:
 -  5/19/2022 - Plastic Free Lunch Day in 750 NYC schools, a huge success!
​ - 11/25/2018 - PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY at PS 15 K, a first for NYC schools
May 16, 2022 Press Release ->
Plastic Free Lunch Day - Cafeteria Culture
PS 15 Brooklyn 5th grade students in the movie, "Microplastic Madness"
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​For Teachers, Administrators, Students, and Parents
​​​School Food Service Directors, Managers, and teams ->

For everyone
​INSPIRE your class, team, & entire school
with our award winning movie!
 Sign up to host a screening->
​Screenings are always free for all Title 1 or under-resourced schools.
 about the movie ->
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​​K-12 Resource Checklist
for teachers, administrators, staff, students, parents
Updated materials coming soon!
​

Promotion & Outreach


​Announcements, Letter Templates, Messaging  
  • See all downloadable FLYERS below
          (**new! PFLD Spanish flyer - add your logo!)

​​
Easy Start 
Movies to inspire everyone!
Show in the classroom, cafeteria, assembly, after school, or club! 
  • ​"Plastic Free Lunch Day - Get ready USA" - video promo (3 minutes)  on Vimeo
  • "Microplastic Madness" (76 minutes) -  Sign up for your free link. (free for all K-12 schools thru Nov 23; available with Spanish subtitles)  Inspire your students to take plastic-free action with Cafeteria Culture’s award winning, student-led movie. This uplifting and informative real life story shows how the students started the first Plastic Free Lunch Day & is sure to spark a lively discussion.  Watch the trailer!
  • CafCu Media on YouTube! - video shorts made by & with students to promote zero waste, plastic free, & climate education, advocacy and action! (start with "School Lunch in Japan - it's not just about eating" - 34 million views!)
​​​​​
Lessons & Activities
Measure your plastic use and impact  (All of the above in one PDF, Step by Step in a Packet for K-12 - guide, letter and surveys, 6-pages) 
​
MATH Lessons
​if your school is not yet planning a plastic-free action day:
Please share your photos, data and stories with us!
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Students at PS15K in NYC collecting data with the "Single-use Plastic Search" worksheets

​For Students! 
Creative Messaging Tip Sheet

​For High School Students
How to Drive Change In Your School Cafeteria - A Guide for High School Students,
adapted from the work of Gauri Rastogi, high school senior and CafCu Youth Advocate and intern, based on her years of advocating to eliminate styrofoam trays from her school district in MIchigan.

For College Students 
Step by Step College Guide and Survey, Plastic Free Lunch Day and plastic free action ideas for every day!
​
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Flyers
Print these or create your own!
Click on image to view & print

For secondary schools.
Add the date(s) your own logo 
​ Download PDF ->
Add the date & your own logo.
​Download PDF
For all schools, Add the date(s).. Download PDF ->
Spanish flyer. Add the date(s)
​and your own logo.
​Download PDF
For elementary schools. 
​Download PDF ->
For elementary schools, cups and utensils. Download the 2-page PDF ->
​
For all schools. Download PDF >

For high school and college students
start a #SkipTheStuff campaign


Share your PLASTIC FREE LUNCH DAY stories with us!
and inspire others to take plastic free action!

Share your poster creations on social media and tag us:
  Twitter @CafeteriaCu    IG @CafCu   FB CafeteriaCulture  TikTok @CafeteriaCu
#plasticfreelunch   #cafcu 

Are you on board?
Show our Get Ready video to your students to get them ready!

ABC7 news Students from Red Hook create Plastic Free Lunch Day, schools participate nationwide  Nov 2, 2022


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​​Easy Plastic Free (Lunch)
Actions
for every day!
NO PLASTIC ______ DAY!
Simplify the day with a focus on reducing just one kind of single-use plastic packaging, such as a:
-  NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY  (more ideas for reducing plastic straws ->)
-  NO CONDIMENT PACKET DAY - ask your school food manager if they can serve condiments in refillable containers or dispensers.

We suggest always starting with a before survey (or audit). 
Example: the steps for a "NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY":
 - 1 - Set out a box and sign  to collect all the plastic straws used ruing one lunch period or during all school lunch periods.
 - 2 - Count the straws and photograph all the straws (lay them out on a dark background).
 - 3 - Publicize the number of straws collected on that one day and the date of your NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY" 
 - 4 - On the day of the initiative, once again collect any plastic straws and photograph
 - 5 - Make posters with the 'before" and "after" data and photos 
 - 6 - Interview students and staff to find out what others suggest to do next to reduce single-use plastics and other packaging.
BRING YOUR OWN ______ DAY!
- BRING YOUR OWN FORK (and napkin) DAY
- BRING YOUR CUP or REUSABLE BOTTLE DAY
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From the movie, "Microplastic Madness"
lead a "TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED Day"/ #SkipTheStuff  
- Make creative signage to encourage plastic waste reduction or use the flyer provided (above) and place near dispensers.
- Ask teachers to remind students just before lunch.
- Make announcements!
- Lead a before count of plastic utensils thrown away on a single day, start your campaign, then do an after count. Compare and publicize results.
PROMOTE A REUSE CULTURE - EVERYDAY!
Ask your food service manager to:
-  Offer plastic utensils by request only on days when pizza, burritos, and other hand-held foods are served. Salad bars can be stocked with cut vegetables.
- Serve all condiments and sauces in reusable dispensers or bottles.
- If your meals come packaged with the utensils, ask to try a new method of offering utensils.
- If your utensils and napkins come together in plastic wrap, ask for individual utensils and napkins!
GRATITUDE DAY!
"Thank your kitchen and custodial staff and school cafeteria aides!
- Hang up special "thank you' posters in the cafeteria with staff names.
- Encourage students to say "please" and "thank you" in the food line.
- Make a special "thank you" announcement at the end of the lunch period and invite kitchen and custodial staff to join you!
- Thank kitchen and custodial staff during school assemblies and recognize the work they do for the school community.

Showing gratitude supports positive change-making and builds community!  For inspiration, show our video, "School  Lunch in Japan- it's not just about eating" (34 million views on YouTube!)

More PLASTIC FREE ACTIONS for school, work, and COmmunity!
  • ​Hold a fundraiser to buy reusable bottles or utensils for all students.
  • Create an education campaign to promote reduction of single-use plastics and reusables for home and store bought lunches.
  • Create an education campaign focused on reducing a specific single-use plastic item and offer solutions.
  • Create a utensil/packet/straw "by request only" action;  meet with your principal and school food manager to ask that these plastic items not be given out automatically. Create signs and an information campaign.  (see signs below in "Resource" section or make your own and share with us)
  • Conduct a survey of plastic waste or street/beach litter at  school/work/community to inform & persuade. (use our "DIY: DATA +ACTION litter clean up" guide!)
  • Create banners, posters or flyers about single use plastics to inform students, school staff and community to #uselessplastic.
  • Create an art installation or giant puppets using single use plastics as 3 dimensional data to inform & persuade.
  • Perform a theater piece, poetry, or music (on the streets or indoors) to engage new audiences on the plastic pollution issues and reduction.
  • Learn about local/state plastic-reduction bills/proposals and ask to meet with your local and state legislators to inform & persuade. Sharing your data helps! (find some NY and US bills ->)
  • Start planning now for a spring 2023 Plastic Free Lunch Day!
  • Lead  a "Write a Letter to the Editor" campaign or teach a lesson with our guidelines.
  • Write a letter to your principal, school food manager, and school board to request future Plastic Free Lunch Days as regular weekly or monthly menu days! (see our Sample Letter to the  Principal ->)
  • Ask to present to PTA and school baord,
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Photos

More Cafeteria Culture
free Educational Resources
​
Youth POV +action on climate, racial justice, human rights, policy, public school & more!

WHY CAFETERIA CULTURE?

Cafeteria Culture was founded as the grassroots STYROFOAM OUT OF SCHOOLS campaign in 2009. Students, parents and school food directors came together to find creative solutions to rid NYC school cafeterias of 850,000 styrofoam trays thrown away per day.

The result: VICTORY! Working together, we catalyzed the complete elimination of a half a BILLION styrofoam trays per year from incinerators, landfills and student meals in schools across the US.

Together, we can win this next environmental and health victory and dramatically decrease single-use plastics in school cafeterias everywhere!
Youth Rally to ban Foam - Cafeteria Culture
Youth Rally to Ban Foam, NY City Hall, 2018, as seen in "Microplastic Madness" Photo: Erik Mcgregor

Single-use Plastic​ Pollution Problem
​ in a snapshot

Why DO we need #plasticfreelunch?
The world is awash in toxic and polluting
single-use plastics
made from hazardous chemicals
and climate-damaging fossil fuels. 
380 million metric tons of plastic are produced each year.
The US plastic recycling rate has dropped below 6%!
​​
1o reasons to take plastic free, climate action 
  • Plastic kills 100,000 marine animals every year.
  • The US creates more plastic waste than any other nation.
  • Plastic never goes away.  It degrades into tiny microplastics.
  • Scientists have found microplastics in the deepest parts of the ocean, and in our soil, food, water and air.
  • Recent studies have also found microplastics in our bodies: our gut, our tissues, our poop, our blood, the deepest parts of our lungs!
  • We are all eating and breathing microplastics.
What is a Single-Use Plastic and Why is it a Problem?
Each year, we produce over 350 million metric tons of plastic; more than 40% of this is single-use plastic--plastic packaging and foodware that is used for less than 20 minutes.  Because plastic is not recyclable, most discarded plastic is sent to landfills or "leaks" into the natural environment. 

Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead it breaks or fragments into small particles called microplastics and then into smaller particles called nanoplastics.  Because plastic is made from fossil fuels and thousands of persistent toxic chemicals, they transfer thousands of migrating chemicals into our food during use. After disposal and fragmentation, plastic particles carry and distribute these toxic chemicals to every inch of the globe. 

​Scientists have found micro and nanoplastics in our digestive tract, deep in our lung tissue, in the placenta, and circulating in our blood. Nanoplastics deliver thousands of toxic chemicals directly to the organs, tissues, and cells in our bodies. We now face the public health crisis of our time. 

School cafeterias serve over 40 million meals a day and make a large contribution to the plastic waste stream.  School cafeterias are a great place to begin reducing single-use plastics, while also protecting the health of our students--society's most vulnerable members. Plastic free lunch day is a first step that results in useful photos and data but, most importantly, it shows everyone that food-dispensing and eating does not require plastic! ​
Learn more about the Plastic Pollution Crisis,
and why we need urgent action->
​
Plastic Free Lunch Day - Cafeteria Culture
Click to make a quick tax deductible donation!
FOLLOW US FOR UPDATES!
34 million views!!
​WATCH ALL OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE->
​WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON VIMEO->
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