Co-Creation Through Collaborative Governance: Realising Healthier and More Sustainable Neighbourhood Food Environments

Abstract

This study assesses the process and outcomes of co-creation for developing healthier and more sustainable food environments (i.e., food environments that stimulate healthy and sustainable food choices) in three Dutch neighbourhoods, engaging diverse stakeholders—local residents, entrepreneurs and municipal officials—while adhering to collaborative governance principles. The co-creation process comprised five phases: (1) exploration, where the research team, together with local municipalities, identified and evaluated potential neighbourhoods for co-creation; (2) mapping, in which the research team and local stakeholders assessed stakeholder insights and analysed neighbourhood photographs to better understand the stakeholders’ food environment; (3) intervention, where the research team and stakeholders brainstormed on how to intervene within the food environments; (4) implementation, where stakeholders formed taskforces to implement these interventions; and (5) evaluation, to conclude the study, and evaluate the interventions and the co-creative process, highlighting both its successes and challenges. The research team facilitated and mediated throughout all phases, ensuring trust and effective collaboration between all partners. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness and pitfalls of co-creation in transforming the food environment, and emphasise the importance of sustained and qualitative stakeholder engagement for achieving sustainable, community-driven changes.