About this article
As Nutrition Manager at Magnushof’s central kitchen, Jeffrey Jumpertz knows how important mealtimes are to residents. When the organization set out to align their packaging with their sustainability commitments, they found the perfect partner in King Nederland and Verive's cellulose trays. The result? A 98% reduction in plastic use without compromising on food safety or operational efficiency.
12 Jan 2026
6 min
Nerea Tarrero
Woongroep Samen operates multiple long-term care facilities across North Holland North, providing rehabilitation, intensive care, and somatic care to residents. At their Magnushof location in Schagen, Jeffrey Jumpertz manages the food service department with a clear mission: to make meals a meaningful moment in residents’ lives.
Making meals matter
“I’m here for a reason,” Jeffrey explains. “Let us make meals the most beautiful moment of the day for the people who come here.” This philosophy drives everything his team does, from menu planning to the packaging that arrives on residents’ plates.
With 950 meals produced daily, including 350 delivered to homes throughout North Holland through their partnership with Wonen Plus Welzijn, the impact of packaging choices extends far beyond Magnushof’s walls.
The challenge: sustainability meets food safety
Previously, Magnushof used PP plastic materials for their meal trays. While functional, these didn’t align with the organization’s sustainability commitments. As signatories of Green Deal 3.0 – a Dutch initiative for circular and sustainable healthcare – Samen recognized that responsible waste management wasn’t optional.
“Sustainability is not a hobby. It’s really a societal development,” Jeffrey notes. “We produce many meals, and ultimately a meal’s packaging materials are a residual product. We find it important to handle it in a responsible way.”
But finding an alternative wasn’t straightforward. The organization needed packaging that could handle cooking, cooling, portioning, sealing, and maintaining freshness for up to 72 hours, all while preventing taste transfer and ensuring food safety.
A thorough partnership approach
This is where our partner King Nederland entered the picture, taking a consultative approach to guide Magnushof. The team explored multiple alternatives and materials, each evaluated against strict criteria: food safety, taste transfer prevention, seal integrity during transport, and performance through the regeneration warming process.
“It was a very thorough process, and we were very well helped by the colleagues from King.” Jeffrey recalls.
Proven performance at scale
“What’s very important for us is food safety and taste transfer prevention,” Jeffrey emphasizes. “We tested this extensively. After the regeneration warming process, the cellulose tray remained good. We can easily peel off the seal, and the products don’t seep in, so it stays nice and clean.”
Just as importantly, the trays integrated seamlessly into existing workflows. “They fit very well into our work processes, so we didn’t have to make many adjustments.”
The numbers speak for themselves: with Verive’s cellulose trays, Magnushof now uses 98% less plastic than before, a dramatic reduction that significantly advances their sustainability goals.
Resident satisfaction
The impact extends to the people who enjoy the meals: the residents. “I get a lot of feedback from residents saying they’re very happy that they now have a natural, beautiful product,” Jeffrey shares.
This resident appreciation validates the careful selection process and demonstrates that responsible choices can enhance, rather than compromise, the user experience.
Looking ahead
For Jeffrey and the Magnushof team, this is just the beginning. “Sustainability will not stand still, and we’ll continuously need to refine processes,” he says. “I hope for a long-term collaboration with King and Verive.”
His recommendation to other organizations is clear: “I would certainly go for it. We’re well guided by King, and together we can make more sustainable choices, which is very important for society.”
Ready to make your meal service more sustainable?
We’re proud to support Woongroep Samen’s commitment to a more sustainable care with our cellulose trays. Do you want to explore our packaging solutions for your food service operation? Send us a message via info@verive.eu. We’d be happy to think along with you.
