Cooking Together for Sustainability

How Netto’s Rescued Food Inspired Youth and Community Members to Cook, Collaborate, and Celebrate Sustainability Around One Shared Table

Community cooking, 20 September 2025

SUSTAINABILITY—20 September 2025

One Table, Infinite Possibilities: How Horsens Cooks for a Sustainable Future

On September 20th, 2025, in Horsens, community members of all ages gathered for a community cooking event hosted by Pangaea Youth Network. The surplus food, generously provided by Netto, became the foundation for a creative challenge. Rather than following strict recipes, participants designed their own meals using rescued ingredients, focusing on creativity, collaboration, and sustainability.

Main Takeaways:

Sustainable Cooking Skills: Reducing food waste while preparing nutritious, collective meals.
Youth Empowerment: Fostering teamwork and leadership through group activities.
Hidden Potential: Showcasing how "surplus food" can be transformed into high-quality, imaginative dishes.

Work together, Work better.

Leadership in the Kitchen: From Food Waste to Creative Feast

This gathering showed how community cooking goes far beyond preparing a meal. Initiated by Stolika Georgieva “Sissey”, the project aims to continue on a weekly basis, each time nominating a “chef of the week” to practice leadership and guide the group. For this first edition, Bartek from Vejle stepped into the role, leading participants through the process with enthusiasm and creativity.

The workshop brought together participants to experiment with rescued food items—ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste. Working in small groups, they prepared a variety of dishes, shared tips, and learned about the environmental impact of food waste. The interactive atmosphere made it easy for everyone to contribute, whether chopping vegetables, seasoning meals, or setting the table. Throughout the day, the kitchen filled with teamwork as groups transformed these surplus ingredients into nourishing and imaginative dishes.

Beyond the Plate: Building Empowerment and Regional Connections

Beyond the recipes, the workshop demonstrated the deep connection between sustainable cooking and youth empowerment. Preparing and sharing food offered a powerful way to explore teamwork, communication, and problem-solving—all central to youth work. At the same time, the emphasis on reducing waste showed how sustainability can be practiced in everyday life, giving young people a stronger sense of responsibility and belonging.

The initiative also showed its regional reach by welcoming guests from Aarhus (Sonu) and Vejle (Jakub and Bartek), emphasizing how these actions connect people across different towns. The shared meal created an inclusive space where youth and adults alike could build relationships and reflect on collective action. As one participant noted: