Schil & Stronk at Eindhoven Municipality

Last year, we launched the first edition of Buurtbistro Schil & Stronk (Dutch for Neigborhood Bistro Peel & Stalk), featuring a cooking workshop and community lunch. It was a huge success—and it didn’t go unnoticed by the municipality of Eindhoven. When they began planning their Climate Week program for staff, they reached out to us: “Could you organize a Schil & Stronk edition for us?” Naturally, we said yes!

For those who need a quick refresher: Schil & Stronk is a program we developed in collaboration with the social designers at Studio Sociaal Centraal. Through cooking workshops and community lunches, we provide fun, delicious, and approachable tips for reducing food waste, while subtly highlighting plant-based eating. The neighborhood bistro also serves as a tool for bringing neighbors closer together. Read the full case study here!

Sustainability at Eindhoven Municipality

The municipality of Eindhoven takes sustainability seriously. From the fully revamped, eco-friendly city hall to policies and projects built around green goals, it’s clear they’re committed. Even behind the scenes, sustainability is woven into daily life—think a mostly plant-based cafeteria menu and a well-oiled recycling system. But when something becomes second nature, people can stop noticing it. To shake things up and get everyone thinking about sustainability again, the municipality organized several events during National Climate Week. With lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities, employees were encouraged to see things in a new light and find fresh inspiration.

Schil & Stronk x Climate Week

Schil & Stronk makes sustainability fun and fosters connection among people—a perfect match for the municipality’s goals. Together with Studio Sociaal Centraal and the food designers at LEF!, we put together a custom-made program. During Climate Week, we hosted two workshops where participants learned to ferment vegetables (including peels and stalks) to make them last longer. Ahead of the workshops, we offered employees a taste of LEF!’s delicious creations in the cafeteria to drum up interest.

A taste of carrot

The promotional efforts worked: the workshops filled up in no time. To reach an even larger group of employees, we also made two visits during Climate Week with carrot-inspired snacks, using every part of the carrot. Calling them “snacks” hardly does justice to the creations LEF! prepared: carrot cones filled with creamy carrot purée and a tangy chimichurri made from carrot tops, spiced chips from carrot peels, and sweet pastilles from carrot juice. They were a hit, with all 300 samples snapped up in no time! Visitors also eagerly took home Schil & Stronk stickers and tips to combat food waste.

Workshops: fermenting vegetables 'from peel to stalk'

The fermentation workshops were a big success. For some participants, it was their first time pickling vegetables, and they were delighted to see how easy it could be. More experienced cooks were equally impressed by the unique flavor combinations developed by LEF!. An added bonus was the opportunity for employees from various teams, departments, and divisions to connect and strengthen bonds. This was no coincidence—the social designers at Studio Sociaal Centraal have a knack for bringing out the social side of people! Thanks to their enthusiasm and organizational skills, this edition of Schil & Stronk was, once again, a resounding success.

Interested in your own version of Schil & Stronk?

We’d love to bring Schil & Stronk to more organizations in Eindhoven. Interested in a mix of sustainability and social connection? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!