Our impact on the environment
2.4.2
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY,
AN ENVIRONMENTAL
SOLUTION ACROSS
THE VALUE CHAIN
Controlling production and the processing of resources to avoid any loss in value is one of Sodexo’s major challenges. To us, it’s not just a question of cost-effectiveness. It’s a moral obligation. Sodexo is in a unique position to drive the behavioral change we need towards more sustainable consumption. The Company shares its experience and understanding of the principles of the circular economy and waste stream management with its stakeholders, giving clients a real advantage in achieving their environmental goals.
As part of its operational excellence imperatives, Sodexo takes advantage of the expertise of its employees, having completed sustainability practices training. Employees are encouraged to be creative and suggest innovative approaches to repurposing waste and implementing technological solutions and alternative methods at Sodexo and client sites, such as using eco-friendly packaging, redistributing food products and helping local communities become more independent. On-site waste management includes measuring and analyzing data, which is monitored by internal and external audits and published transparently, taking care to avoid any possible risk to clients’ reputations.
Sodexo is strengthening this teamwork, a key aspect of our truly effective global sustainability efforts, within and across the supply chain. In doing so, the Company stimulates the circular economy and contributes to United Nations SDG Target 12.3: to halve food loss and waste throughout production and supply chains, including after harvest, by 2030.
WasteWatch, Sodexo’s Worldwide Data-Based Program to Reduce Waste
Sodexo is convinced that the fight against food waste needs to accelerate. The Company launched its flagship program, WasteWatch, with the goal of preventing an average of 50% of all waste on around 900 client sites in 26 countries. WasteWatch is the first initiative of its size in the food services sector. It’s easy to use, and it motivates employees by giving them a clear view of how much food is wasted and why. It also makes it easier to implement the necessary operational and behavioral changes to put a stop to avoidable waste in the kitchen or generated by consumers. Sodexo is the first international food services company to connect its financing to its work fighting food waste.
Worldwide, food waste is one of the biggest problems of our time. Now we have the technology in our kitchens to help us monitor production on a daily basis to find out why food has been wasted and what we can do to stop it from happening again. It will bring about digital and behavioral changes in our front-line personnel and our managers, using a fact-based approach.
Erwan Harb,
IFM Director at Sodexo