A workplace canteen education program to promote healthy eating and environmental

protection. Barillas S.Mediterraneo Project

Luca Ruini Barilla G.e R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy) luca.ruini@barilla.com
Laura Marchelli Barilla G.e R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy) laura.marchelli@barilla.com
Valeria Rapetti Barilla G.e R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy) valeria.rapetti@barilla.com
Marta Bianchi Barilla G.e R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy marta.bianchi@barilla.com
Eleonora Vannuzzi LCEngeneering, Turin (Italy) vannuzzi@studiolce.it

Abstract.
Since 2011 the Barilla Group has put forth the educational project S.Mediterraneo, with the
twofold purpose of improving Barilla employees well-being and increasing their awareness on
the environmental impacts of their food consumptions. This paper will present and discuss some
of the most interesting results of the research that has been carried out on the impacts of the
experiment.
Canteen menus were modified to be sustainable from an environmental perspective and
balanced from a nutritional point of view.
Results show that nutritional messages do have a significant influence on employees eating
choices. From environmental point of view, the activity led to significant reduction of
greenhouse gases emissions, water use and land ecosystem use. In Pedrignano canteen alone,
the project has allowed savings of 65kg of CO2-eq every day, as well as 40m3 of water and
1000m2 of Ecological Footprint per day.

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technologies (ISSN

2329-9169) is published annually by the Sustainable Conoscente Network. Jun-Ki Choi and
Annick Anctil, co-editors 2015. ISSSTNetwork@gmail.com.
Copyright 2015 by Author 1, Author 2, Author 3 Licensed under CC-BY 3.0.
Cite as: A workplace canteen education program to promote healthy eating and environmental
protection. Barillas S.Mediterraneo Project Proc. ISSST, Name of Authors. Doi information v3
(2015)

A workplace canteen education program to promote healthy eating and environmental protection. Barillas
S.Mediterraneo Project

Introduction.
As part of its business strategy Good for You, Good for the Planet, since 2011 Barilla puts
forth S.Mediterraneo, an educational project aimed at increasing the well-being Groups
employees and raising their awareness on the environmental impacts of their food
consumptions.
The project has a twofold purpose. The first aim is to increase Barilla Peoples awareness
about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and the relationship between food choices and
environmental impact. This aim isaccomplished through an educational program on the
principles of the Double Pyramid model promoted by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition.
The Double Pyramid is a pictorial representation that classifies food product depending on their
nutritional value and environmental impact. The Model shows that foods which consumption
should be limited have a high environmental impact, while the ones that should be eaten in
greater quantity have a low environmental impact.
The second aim is to improve the eating habits of Barilla employees through nutritional
education, modifying the company canteens menus to offer them a wider range of healthy
foods, in line with the dietary principles of the Mediterranean Diet.
Investigative Method.
The project has been developed in cooperation with the Department of Clinical and
Experimental Medicine of the Federico II University of Naples.
The initiative began in 2011 in the two company cafeterias at the Barilla Group headquarters in
Pedrignano (Parma), and then it was expanded to all the Groups plants in Italy and in the USA.
In 2013 the project became a global commitment of the Group, and it has been extended to
Barillas plants and offices in Europe (Germany, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Turkey, France),
Asia (Singapore, China, Japan), Australia, Brazil and Canada.
Canteen menus were created to be sustainable from an environmental perspective and
balanced from a nutritional point of view, containing the correct proportion of calories, fibers and
saturated fatty acids. The same guidelines have been used in all the company canteens around
the world. The traditional Mediterranean Diet has been adapted depending on the geographic
areas it has been promoted, in order to enhance the food diversity and the culinary traditions of
the various countries.
Carbon, Water, and Ecological Footprint have been used to assess and communicate the
environmental impact of the menus proposed.
The canteen have been adorned with posters and other notices. The information focused on the
nutritional value of the Mediterranean Model, the importance of calorie balance for weight
maintenance, the promotion of unsaturated healthy fats, and the environmental impacts of
different food choices. Informative materials were distributed into the eating spaces, in order to
procure the employees with a proper knowledge about the importance of achieving a
sustainable low-carbon diet, both from a healths perspective and from an environmental point
of view.
Results.
Pedrignano canteens consumptions have been monitored during three weeks between 2011
and 2012. Overall 12,160 meals were recorded. Results show that nutritional messages do

L. Ruini et al.

have a significant influence on employees eating choices. In two months consumption of whole
grain pasta doubled, and also the consumption of whole grain bread increased significantly
(+40%). Consumption of fruit and vegetables has improved, too. Results showed also a
negative trend in the consumption of red meat (- 77%), while the white lean meat consumption
hiked (+60%).
The activity translated also in a significant reduction of the greenhouse gases emissions, water
use, and land use. In Pedrignano canteen alone, it has been assessed that the project led to a
saving of 65kg of CO2-eq every day for the Pedrignano canteen, as well as 40m3 of water and
1000m2 of Ecological Footprint per day.
As regards dissemination at an international level, the initiative have been adapted to each
cultural context, after a careful evaluation of each locations needs and available resources.
Conclusion.
The project has demonstrated the effectiveness of educational activities performed in the
workplace for positively influence employees food choices. Combining the use of immediate
and understandable graphic tools (Double Pyramid model and informative posters) with
engaging educational activities and balanced canteen menu proposals,
it is possible
simultaneously increase the well-being of people through a proper nutrition, while protecting the
environment.

A workplace canteen education program to promote healthy eating and environmental protection. Barillas
S.Mediterraneo Project

Supplementary Information
Working towards healthy and sustainable diets: the Double Pyramid Model developed
by the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition to raise awareness about the environmental
and nutritional impact of foods
Luca Ruini Barilla G.& R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy) luca.ruini@barilla.com
Roberto Ciati Barilla G.e R. Fratelli S.p.A., Parma (Italy) roberto.ciati@barilla.com
Carlo Alberto Pratesi Roma Tre University, Rome (Italy) pratesi@uniroma3.it
Massimo Marino LCEnceneering, Turin (Italy) marino@studiolce.it
Eleonora Vannuzzi LCEnceneering, Turin (Italy) vannuzzi@studiolce.it
Ludovica Principato La Sapienza University, Rome (Italy) ludovica.principato@uniroma1.it

Front. Nutr. 2:9 doi:10.3389/fnut.2015.00009