An overview of the global food waste in both stages is better seen in Fig. 4 where both main dish and soup waste data was summed up to give a total WI for the whole meal (excluding bread and dessert). There was a larger variation in the values before the EC campaign. The menus producing the highest plate waste were reported to the canteen management to be avoided in the future. The general improvement in the WI classification leads to the assumption that before the campaign the users were not as selfconscious of the importance of reducing plate waste. After the EC the WI exceeded 10% in only one occasion. The campaign seems to have produced an effect on the users’ behaviour. The variability in the daily WI values decreased after the EC indicating a higher degree of users’ consciousness regarding food waste. Through a very simple education campaign, awareness messages and ‘‘howto” actions targeting users and collaborators, it was possible to decrease the daily WI and average per capita plate waste (Tables 1 and 2). The same result was observed by Zilahy and Huisingh (2009), Zsóka et al. (2013) and Whitehair et al. (2013) because knowledge and awareness regarding environmental problems may not necessarily be enough to change behaviours. In this study e also concluded that the staff also needs to be educated and trained towards this common goal.Per capita plate waste decreased after the EC with significant differences between stage one and stage two from 76.50 g to 64.67 g, respectively (p < 0.05). The average WI before and after the campaign was 9.13%, and 7.72%, respectively, a significant reduction of circa 15% (p < 0.05). This indicates that the project objective was accomplished. Kim and Freedman (2010) observed a 25% reduction of plate waste after an education intervention on plate waste awareness in a university food service unit.