We’re partnering with Too Good To Go to reduce food waste on campus

We’re pleased to announce a new partnership with Too Good To Go, a surplus food rescue platform that helps redistribute unsold food and reduce food waste across the Canterbury campus.

Through this partnership, perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste at the end of the day will be made available to students and staff at a reduced price, supporting both affordability and sustainability.

What is Too Good To Go?

Too Good To Go connects food businesses with customers who are happy to purchase surplus food at a lower cost. Food is sold via the Too Good To Go app as a “Surprise Bag” - a discounted selection of food that varies depending on what surplus is available that day.

All food meets the same quality and food safety standards as our regular offering.

How does it work?

Using Too Good To Go is quick and easy:

1. We list surplus food on the Too Good To Go app toward the end of the trading day
2. You purchase a Surprise Bag through the app at a significantly reduced price
3. You collect your bag from the outlet at the till during the specified pickup window
4. Payment is handled through the app at the time of purchase
5. Enjoy your Surprise Bag! Contents vary depending on the surplus available that day.

Where can I use the app?

Too Good To Go is used by food businesses around the world, and we’re excited to bring it to campus. From 16 February 2026, Surprise Bags will be available at:

• Sibson Café
• Rutherford Dining Hall
• Keynes Café & Kitchen
• Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café

Availability is limited each day, so we recommend keeping an eye on the app to avoid missing out.

For allergen information, please scan the QR code at the till or refer to our allergen information online.

Help us to reduce the number of disposable cups going to landfill

Here at Kent we are committed to finding ways to reduce paper cup use. That’s why we’re encouraging staff, students and visitors to ditch the disposable cups and use a reusable alternative instead.

Switching to a reusable coffee cup is a great way to cut your plastic footprint. Each time you choose to re-use, even just once a week, you will be helping in the fight against single-use waste.

We want our customers to benefit from using a reusable cup, that’s why every time you use a reusable cup in one of our participating outlets, you’ll receive 25p off your order. So, as well as saving the planet, you’ll be saving your bank account too!

Participating outlets include:

• Keynes Café & Kitchen 
• Sibson Café
• Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café

In line with our commitment to sustainability, we've partnered with Garage Coffee, a popular, award-winning, independent coffee roaster based in Hoath, Kent. 

Garage Coffee is committed to sustainability and ethical coffe production, making it a great fit for the University of Kent. As part of their eco-friendly practices, all of their packaging is 100% recyclable and biodegradable.

They only roast specialty-grade, fully traceable, and fairly traded coffees, building long-term relationships with the same farms.

By partnering with Garage Coffee, the university is supporting a local, independent business that prioritises ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, while offering high-quality coffee to students and staff.

Plastic bottles contribute significantly to environmental pollution. By reusing a water bottle, you reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or the ocean.

Where can I refill my water bottle?

• Mungo’s (Eliot College) – Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.

• K-Bar (Keynes College) - Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.

• Sibson Café (Sibson Building) – Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.

• Hut 8 (Turing College) - Designated water station in service hatch.

• Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College) – Designated water station in open fridge in the dining area.

• Keynes Café & Kitchen (Keynes College) – Designated water tap in dining area.

• Gulbenkian Café - Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.

If you would like to add a water station to this list, please email:  kentunifood@compass-group.co.uk