> Promote sustainable agriculture
Sodexo recognizes the critical role of soil and water health in ensuring long-term food security and ecosystem resilience. Our responsibility extends beyond direct operations to the upstream supply chain, where the vast majority of pollution-related impacts occur.
To address these risks and contribute to pollution prevention, Sodexo is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices across its value chain. This includes minimizing inputs that contribute to soil degradation, nutrient runoff, and water contamination.
To operationalize these commitments, Sodexo has implemented the following actions:
- supplier selection & collaboration: Sodexo actively prioritizes suppliers who demonstrate strong environmental performance, including initiatives to reduce emissions, minimize waste, and protect water resources and biodiversity.
- Supplier Code of Conduct: updated in Fiscal 2024, Sodexo’s Supplier Code of Conduct sets clear environmental, ethical, and social expectations for all suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors. It explicitly requires that suppliers’ sourcing, farming, manufacturing, and distribution activities do not adversely impact biodiversity or ecosystems, including through pollution. Sodexo is committed to having 100% of its tier 1 contracted suppliers sign its Code of Conduct by 2025.
- Targeted actions in high-impact supply chains:
- as deforestation significantly contributes to water pollution through erosion and sedimentation, Sodexo has committed to a deforestation- and conversion-free supply chain by 2030, covering the high-risk commodities palm oil, soy, beef, and paper. Refer to section 2.2.2.4 Biodiversity and ecosystems (E4)
- recognizing the pollution risks associated with aquaculture, Sodexo implements a sustainable seafood strategy that favors certified sources, including Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), and Global G.A.P. certifications, as detailed in section 2.2.2.3 Water and marine resources (E3).
Sodexo continues to evolve its approach through stakeholder engagement, supplier collaboration, and integration of science-based targets, aiming to reduce pollution risks across the full value chain while contributing to the regeneration of natural systems.
> Reduce substances of high concern
Sodexo does not directly purchase substances of high concern - as identified under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals regulation of the European Union. However, some of the cleaning chemicals may contain trace amounts of these substances. During their use, these chemicals can be released into wastewater, which may subsequently enter the environment. Even in small quantities, the presence of such substances in water systems can pose a risk of water pollution, potentially harming aquatic ecosystems and affecting water quality.
To translate into measurable targets, we first need to set up a robust cleaning chemical management framework, which is being piloted by the global buyer of the category and supported by the global sustainability team. This work has started and includes:
- developing and sharing comprehensive guidelines with the supply management teams internally to promote the use of sustainable chemicals, including those certified under the international ISO 14024 norm, type I;
- stringent cleaning chemical suppliers selection processes guaranteeing compliance with regulations;
- direct and ongoing dialogue with our key cleaning chemical suppliers: Sodexo holds specific meetings on chemicals of concern to ensure the safe use of products and to increase the proportion of cleaning chemicals free from such substances. This collaboration also allows Sodexo to ensure that the products do not contain any substance of very high concern.
At the end of Fiscal 2025, no Group-wide policy has been fully formalized in relation to chemicals and substance of high concern.
Substances of concern and substances of very high concern [E2-5]
Sodexo does not use substances of very high concern in its operations. For Fiscal 2025, we are not yet able to quantify substances of concern across our value chain; however, work is underway to develop a robust methodology that will enable consistent measurement and disclosure in future reporting cycles.
