Protecting natural resources is a major priority and challenge for all organizations. Since 2010, Sodexo has been working with its clients, suppliers and partners as well as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to measure and reduce its carbon emissions, both direct and indirect, throughout its value chain.
With the goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 34% by 2025 (compared to 2017), which was approved by the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) in 2019, Sodexo has become the first company in the Foodservices sector to have a carbon target in line with the Paris Agreement objective of limiting climate warming to 1.5°C. Tangible progress having been made in terms of direct emissions (Scopes 1 and 2), Sodexo is now focusing its efforts on reducing indirect emissions (Scope 3). The Group’s progress is a significant advantage for its clients and partners, who rely on its experience to achieve their own sustainability goals.
To reduce carbon emissions, fighting against food waste is a priority for Sodexo, the fi rst Foodservices fi rm to have linked part of its financing to this goal. An active member of the UN’s Champions 12.3 initiative, the Group is launching initiatives associated with its global program WasteWatch, which is designed to cut its food waste in half by 2025 (vs. 2019 level). To this end, the Group is training its chefs, site managers, kitchen staff and other employees to constantly strive to reduce food waste.
In addition to the health benefits for consumers, a varied, sustainable and plant-forward diet is also a way to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Sodexo is helping raise its consumers’ awareness of the environmental impact of their food choices, and encouraging them to eat differently by offering sustainable dishes and tasty plant-based offerings. For instance, an Ecoscore rating is now provided with each dish prepared by FoodChéri, the first player in Foodservices in France to make such a commitment in response to environmental issues.
Because almost half of its carbon emissions are linked to its supply chain, Sodexo is committed to promoting sustainable and local agriculture, co-developing products and services based on circular economy principles and improving the efficiency of its resources. Convinced that only a joint strategy implemented together with all the players in the sector can guarantee effectiveness protection of the natural ecosystem, Sodexo is developing a global sustainable approach based on cooperation with its clients, suppliers, public authorities and partner or competitor businesses. Together with nine other world leaders in the food industry, the Group has founded the 10x20x30 initiative, in which partners and their 20 priority suppliers commit to introducing common processes for measuring waste throughout the value chain.
Sodexo has committed to ensuring that by 2025, 100% of the electricity it uses at its self-operated sites will be renewable, and aims to encourage its clients to also adopt this goal by using its complete energy management services (see following page). These services, which, by definition, include an energy strategy, upgrading for compliance, and the supply, monitoring and implementation of technologies designed to improve energy efficiency, have already allowed client companies to achieve annual savings and obtain signifi cant returns on their investments
The results of this active strategy in terms of climate impact are very clear. Since 2017, Sodexo has already reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 37.2% and those of its Scope 3 supply chain by 23.2% (in absolute terms). The Group is also known for its initiatives at a global level. In December 2020, Sodexo became the first (and only) Foodservice and Facility Management sector firm to join the “A list” of leaders in the fight against climate change of the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), a standard-setter in corporate environmental transparency. Sodexo is also proud to have been ranked for the 16th year in a row among the leading firms in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and to obtain the highest scores in the environmental and social categories. These recognitions from institutions and indices devoted to corporate responsibility reflect the importance Sodexo places on this issue as well as the progress the Group has made.
