How Harfield Tableware Helps Schools Deliver on Their Climate Action Plans

Supporting School Climate Action Plans with Practical Solutions

Schools across England are being encouraged to take meaningful, practical steps to reduce their environmental impact. Under Department for Education (DfE) guidance, every school is expected to develop a Climate Action Plan and embed sustainability into daily decision-making—not just treat it as a standalone initiative.

For many schools, the challenge is turning high-level objectives into affordable, workable actions, especially in busy dining environments. One area where schools can make an immediate and visible impact is through sustainable school catering.

Climate Action Plans: From Strategy to Everyday Action

DfE guidance encourages schools to focus on:

  • Reducing carbon emissions
  • Improving resource efficiency and cutting waste
  • Making responsible procurement decisions
  • Embedding sustainability into school culture

To be effective, these actions must be durable, measurable, and realistic—especially in high-use areas like dining halls.

Reducing Waste Through Reusable Tableware

A key aim of most school Climate Action Plans is reducing waste, particularly single-use plastics and unnecessary replacements.

Reusable tableware for schools:

  • Eliminates thousands of disposable items each year
  • Reduces landfill waste
  • Supports long-term sustainability, not just short-term fixes

However, not all reusable tableware delivers the same environmental benefit.

The Breakage Problem: Melamine vs Polycarbonate Tableware

Traditional crockery and melamine are still widely used in schools, but both present sustainability challenges in high-volume, fast-paced dining environments.

Crockery:

  • Prone to breakage and chipping
  • Safety risks when broken
  • Frequently replaced, increasing waste and cost

Melamine:

  • Can crack or break when dropped
  • Difficult to recycle at end of life
  • Requires frequent replacement

High breakage rates directly undermine sustainability goals by increasing:

  • Waste
  • Transport emissions
  • Procurement costs
  • Environmental impact over time

A product that breaks regularly cannot be considered genuinely sustainable.

Durability: The Key to Sustainable School Catering

DfE guidance emphasises long-term impact, not just short-term intent.

Polycarbonate and copolyester tableware are specifically designed for demanding school environments. Compared with melamine and crockery, they offer:

  • Significantly higher impact resistance
  • Reduced breakage and replacement rates
  • Longer usable lifespan
  • Lower waste over time

Durable school tableware reduces environmental impact per use, making it a more sustainable choice throughout its lifecycle. Durability is not just a quality issue—it’s a sustainability issue.

Responsible Procurement and UK Manufacturing

Responsible sourcing is a central part of many school Climate Action Plans.

UK-made tableware supports sustainability by:

  • Reducing transport-related carbon emissions
  • Offering clear traceability and accountability
  • Meeting UK environmental and employment standards
  • Supporting responsible procurement policies

Shorter supply chains make sustainability choices easier to evidence and explain.

Sustainability That Works Within School Budgets

Climate Action Plans must also be financially realistic.

Durable, reusable tableware:

  • Lasts longer than melamine or crockery
  • Requires fewer replacements
  • Reduces waste disposal costs
  • Offers better lifetime value

Schools can balance environmental responsibility with budgetary responsibility.

Making Sustainability Visible to Pupils

DfE guidance highlights the importance of embedding sustainability into everyday school life.

Reusable, long-lasting tableware:

  • Makes sustainability visible at every meal
  • Reinforces positive environmental behaviour
  • Helps pupils understand the value of reuse over disposal

Small, consistent actions help build long-term awareness.

A Practical Step Towards School Climate Action Goals

Delivering a Climate Action Plan doesn’t require complex systems or major disruption. By choosing durable, impact-resistant tableware over breakage-prone alternatives, schools can:

  • Reduce waste
  • Lower environmental impact
  • Improve safety
  • Demonstrate meaningful progress against Climate Action Plan commitments

Final Thought

Sustainability isn’t about what looks best on paper—it’s about what performs best over time. By investing in long-lasting, reusable tableware, schools can reduce breakages, minimise waste, and make genuine progress towards their Climate Action Plans.

Harfield tableware is designed to support schools today—and for many years to come.