Lumen Christi Catholic College in Pambula Beach has vouched to go plastic-free in the school café as part of a bigger campaign to create a culture that encourages enviro-friendly practices, builds relationships and promotes health and nutrition in the wider school community.

The school has removed all unhealthy food products from their ‘Seaspray Café’ and introduced fresh, healthy options including ‘nourish bowls’ that are made from the school’s seasonal permaculture garden produce.

Meals are served in biodegradable paper packaging with wooden forks that are then composted in worm farms, and food tins from the café are repurposed as planters for the students to grow plants and fresh herbs.

Students have up-cycled locally sourced chairs and repurposed wooden pallets to build café furniture, each featuring succulents and musical instruments. However, recycling at Lumen Christi goes far beyond the Seaspray Café.

Filtered water stations encourage students to refill reusable water bottles, and classrooms are equipped with paper recycling bins and worm farm bins in an effort to reduce waste.

Students take pride in tending to the garden that works hand-in-hand with the café to help put theory into practice when learning about health and nutrition in the classroom.  

School Principal Steven Centra hopes that through educating the students, teachers and parents, the café will be completely plastic-free in the near future.

“There is a way to go here, but we’re on the right track,” he said.