CDA is proud to support an innovative sustainability initiative, partnering with Bind CIC to launch the North East’s first school-based Eco-Fridges. This ground-breaking project, piloted in two Newcastle primary schools, aims to reduce food waste, promote environmental education, and support local families.
Fighting food waste in schools through innovation
Launched at
Chillingham Road Primary School and
Bridgewater Primary School, the Eco-Fridges offer a smart, sustainable solution to food waste. At the end of each school day, unserved yet perfectly good school meals are placed in the Eco-Fridge, where families can collect them free of charge. This community-focused initiative reduces food waste in schools while helping households access nutritious food, contributing to both environmental sustainability and social impact.
Part of the Eat Smart programme by Bind CIC
The Eco-Fridge project expands on the success of
Bind CIC’s Eat Smart programme, which works with schools to raise awareness about the environmental impact of food waste. The programme encourages pupils to develop practical, student-led solutions for reducing waste at lunchtimes.
“The team at Bind have supported us for the last few years to reduce waste at lunchtimes and playtimes,” says
Ben Wassall, Head Teacher at Chillingham Road Primary.
“The Eco-Fridge is the next practical step, allowing families to benefit from meals that would otherwise be discarded. We’re grateful to Bind and the Local Authority for making this possible.”
“The Eco-Fridge has been a huge hit with our families,” adds
Jennifer Stoker, Head of School at Bridgewater Primary.
“It’s a simple and effective way of ensuring food waste is kept to a minimum. Our school community is proud to support the environment in such a tangible way.”
CDA’s commitment to sustainability
As part of our ongoing commitment to
environmental responsibility and community partnerships, CDA has donated fridges to support this pilot scheme. The initiative is backed by
Newcastle City Council, highlighting the value of cross-sector collaboration to deliver practical, scalable solutions for schools and local communities.
Empowering young changemakers
At the core of the Eat Smart programme is a belief in empowering children to lead change.
“The Eat Smart project aims to show children that by working together, they can make a real difference in just six weeks,” says
Georgie, Programme Manager at
Bind CIC.
“The Eco-Fridge takes their classroom ideas into the wider community, proving that small actions can lead to big results.”
A scalable model for sustainable schools
The early success of the Eco-Fridge pilot demonstrates its potential as a replicable model for other schools and community centres across the UK. By combining food redistribution, sustainability education, and community support, Bind CIC and CDA are setting a powerful example of what can be achieved through thoughtful innovation.
Learn more about CDA’s sustainability partnerships
At CDA, we are proud to support forward-thinking environmental initiatives that align with our values of sustainability, innovation, and community impact. To learn more, visit
projectbind.com
