Today is Belgian Overshoot Day – and what you do with your kitchen matters more than you think

27 March 2025 marks Belgium’s Overshoot Day – the date when our country has officially consumed all the natural resources that the Earth can regenerate in a year.

Put differently: if everyone in the world lived like the average Belgian, we would need more than four Earths to sustain our lifestyle.

According to the Global Footprint Network (overshoot.footprintnetwork.org), Belgium remains one of the countries with the highest ecological footprint per capita.

“Everything that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions is welcome,” says Hans Moyson from WWF Belgium. 

"And we really feel that this awareness is growing among people.”

At Cookwork, we feel that urgency too – and we’re acting on it. In a place that often goes unnoticed in sustainability conversations: the professional kitchen.

A small improvement, but a long road ahead

Last year, Belgian Overshoot Day fell on 23 March. This year, we’ve gained four days – a modest improvement.

However, this shift is mainly the result of refined data analysis, rather than a meaningful drop in our actual consumption. Our behaviour hasn’t changed significantly – and there’s still a long way to go, especially in sectors like food.

It’s also worth noting that 65% of Belgium’s ecological footprint is directly linked to CO₂ emissions. That means reducing carbon emissions must be a top priority.

The hidden impact of building a kitchen

Sustainability in food is often associated with packaging, food waste or local sourcing. But one major aspect is frequently overlooked: the infrastructure itself.

At Cookwork, we’ve calculated that building and installing a professional kitchen produces roughly 4 tonnes of CO₂. This includes emissions from materials, manufacturing processes, transport and installation.

“We want to help drive the change – even in small ways,” says Karl Magnus, co-founder of Cookwork. “Building one professional kitchen emits around 4 tonnes of CO₂. And that’s not even accounting for the added emissions when that kitchen is dismantled prematurely or left unused for years.”

And it doesn’t stop there: the energy consumption over a kitchen’s lifetime often produces four times more CO₂ than the construction itself.

Sharing kitchens = reducing emissions

Cookwork offers a simple but powerful solution: optimising the use of existing kitchens by making them accessible to food professionals who need workspace.

By sharing infrastructure, we avoid unnecessary new builds and reduce carbon emissions – while offering practical advantages for both sides.

The benefits are clear:

• ✅ Kitchen owners earn passive income from underused spaces,

• ✅ Food entrepreneurs access professional kitchens without massive investments,

• ✅ And the planet benefits from lower emissions and less construction.

The numbers: from kitchen sharing to carbon savings

Let’s look at the facts:

• Most professional kitchens operate at just 50% of their potential.

• One new Cookwork match increases usage by around 20% over 18 months.

• With 15 matches across 10 years, a kitchen can reach full (100%) usage.

That means: every fully optimised kitchen = one less kitchen built. 👉 Resulting in 4 tonnes of CO₂ saved.

Our three-year goal:

• ➤ 1,000 matches

• ➤ Equal to 67 kitchens not built

• ➤ That’s 267 tonnes of CO₂ avoided

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Equivalent to:

• 2.2 million kilometres driven by car,

• 10 tonnes of beef produced,

• Or more than 100,000 litres of heating oil.

Raising awareness through coaching and innovation

At Cookwork, we’re not just providing space. We’re also investing in education, innovation and transformation.

Through targeted coaching programmes, we help food entrepreneurs:

• Develop circular business models,

• Make sustainable packaging and distribution choices,

• Reduce energy use and food waste,

• And build an environmentally conscious mindset from day one.

“We want to inspire and empower entrepreneurs,” says Karl Magnus. “Sustainability isn’t just a long-term goal – it starts today, with everyday choices.”

#MoveTheDate – one kitchen at a time

The global Earth Overshoot Day movement calls on countries, sectors and businesses to push back the date when we exceed Earth’s limits.

At Cookwork, we do this one kitchen at a time:

• By optimising existing infrastructure,

• Connecting people and spaces,

• And avoiding new builds when they’re not needed.

Be part of the change

Are you a kitchen owner? 👉 Let your space work for you – and the planet.

Are you a food entrepreneur? 👉 Launch your venture with lower costs, fewer emissions and more flexibility.

🌐 Explore more at Cookwork.be 📩 Or contact us for coaching, rental options or collaboration opportunities.

Because every kitchen shared is one less kitchen built – and one step closer to a sustainable food system.