Reducing food waste to help build a better future
When food is thrown out, it means that the greenhouse gases resulting from production of that food were generated needlessly. The water and energy used to produce, package and deliver that food was also wasted. In addition, the waste management also generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, food waste is oft en ignored as a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Sodexo is convinced that eliminating this waste is a major lever of sustainability and, conscious of the food emergency worldwide, the Company has created an effective solution to minimize food waste. Its program, WasteWatch, has been implemented on around 900 client sites in 26 countries. Based on data collection and analysis, WasteWatch helps preventing around 50% of waste by facilitating the operational and behavioral changes required to eliminate avoidable product waste, both in the kitchen and by consumers themselves.
Creating sustainable food systems based on vegetable protein
Plant-based meals are another essential driver in reducing carbon emissions. Sodexo offers plant-based options worldwide to raise consumer awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of meals featuring sustainable, delicious vegetable protein. To do this, Sodexo relies on the expertise of partners like Eaternity, an organization that measures environmental footprint in the food service industry and helps us find sustainable alternatives. Eaternity’s tools are used by Sodexo Belgium in its food product management system, and by Sodexo Germany as part of a joint program implemented for clients like the European Central Bank (ECB) and Deutsche Bank. In France, the balanced meal delivery service FoodCherí has been assigning an ECO Score to all its meals since January 2021. This indicator provides information on the environmental impact of foods throughout their life cycle.
We are pleased to collaborate with Sodexo on the creation of menus for a sustainable food future. Sodexo’s commitment to engage and encourage their guests to develop good eating habits and healthy lifestyles is essential to create a positive difference in the way our society organizes, lives and eats together. Through our collaboration, their guests can make an informed and responsible choice for their day-to-day meals.
Manuel Klarmann,
Co-founder and CEO Eaternity
Building a supply chain that protects natural ecosystems
Sodexo’s supply chain represents 47% of all the emissions it produces, making it one of the main contributors to the Company’s carbon footprint.
In accordance with its Better Tomorrow 2025 roadmap, Sodexo adheres to strict rules regarding the sourcing, impact and recyclability of each product.
Sodexo has defined key actions to lower its carbon footprint and protect biodiversity. The Group strives to create shorter food supply chains, promote sustainable agriculture, increase the proportion of plant-based foods, and choose suppliers that share its environmental values. Sodexo specifically targeted four products: beef, palm oil, soy and paper, because of their impact on deforestation.
In 2020, Sodexo joined the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a group of retailers, producers and various stakeholders whose mission is to address the industry’s primary challenges in terms of social and environmental sustainability. In 2021, Sodexo joined the Forest Positive Coalition (FPC), one of the eight CGF coalitions, as part of its commitment to protect forests and peatlands by 2030.
Turning our commitments into innovative solutions for our clients
Sodexo has been a member of the RE100 initiative, a group of the world’s most influential companies working together to drive the energy transition, since February 2021. As part of that commitment, Sodexo’s goal is to use 100% renewable electricity at its directly operated sites by 2025. Currently, nearly 24% of its total electricity consumption comes from renewable sources. But the Company is going even further, widening its goal of using renewable energy to include client sites. Its energy management service can assist clients with their renewable energy choice, and help them reach their environmental goals and make significant savings. Sodexo has committed to phase-out from coal related contracts by 2025. The Company has also decided to transform its vehicle fleet by making electric or hybrid vehicles available to employees. In the United Kingdom, over 50% of the fleet is now hybrid. In Sweden, Sodexo has accepted the government’s “Company car” challenge as part of the “Fossil Free” initiative, committing to purchasing only hybrid or electric vehicles.