Year 6 pupils at Waunfawr Primary School have been exploring the global impact of food choices as part of an interactive sustainability project delivered by Size of Wales in partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The initiative, which ran over three weeks, introduced pupils to key environmental issues linked to global food systems, including deforestation and the hidden impact of so-called “forest risk” ingredients such as beef from South America, palm oil, soy, coffee and cacao.
Size of Wales, a charity working to make Wales part of the global solution to climate change, collaborates with Indigenous Peoples and local communities worldwide to help protect tropical forests. It also works to inspire people across Wales to make more environmentally responsible choices.
Through a series of workshops culminating in a full-day session, pupils learned about global supply chains and how everyday food items can contribute to environmental challenges. With support from the council’s Procurement and Catering teams, they analysed school menus and were tasked with redesigning a meal that is nutritious, cost-effective and reduces reliance on ingredients linked to deforestation.
Their final dish, created entirely by the pupils, will be unveiled at the Caerphilly Food Festival 2026 on Saturday 18 April. The group will present their recipe to visitors alongside chef James Nathan, who will provide feedback ahead of a further presentation to the council later this year.
Festival-goers will be able to sample the dish free of charge and hear directly from the pupils about what they have learned, with the project aiming to bring complex environmental issues to life in an accessible and engaging way.
Visitors are encouraged to meet the team at the Size of Wales stand between 11am and 1pm.
A CCBC spokesperson said: “We are so happy to have worked with Size of Wales on this project. The pupils have shown exceptional creativity and awareness—not just in understanding global food systems, but in designing practical, meaningful solutions. Their enthusiasm for sustainability has been inspiring.”
A spokesperson for Size of Wales said: “We should be serving food in schools that doesn’t drive tropical deforestation overseas. Young people understand this immediately—and time and again, they show how achievable it is to design meals that are deforestation-free, healthy, and nutritious. These meals can support the planet, strengthen local rural economies, deliver value for the public purse, and nourish growing bodies.
“We’ve been delighted to work with another forward-thinking council that is committed to partnering with the young people it serves—providing food that is not only good for them today but also supports their future as they grow into adults on this planet.”
