2.2.2 Environmental information
Climate & nature, a strong and long-lasting commitment at Sodexo
Since 2017, Sodexo has been committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 34% by 2025. In 2023, the Group’s 2040 Net Zero target was validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as being aligned with the 1.5°C trajectory of the Paris Agreement.
Over the years, Sodexo has moved from ambition to action, translating its environmental commitments into measurable results across its value chain. At the end of Fiscal 2025, the Group achieved a -19.3% absolute reduction in total GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2 & 3) compared with the 2017 baseline, and exceeded its Better Tomorrow 2025 target for Scopes 1 & 2 with a -37.7% reduction. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our decarbonization measures and reflect significant progress in areas such as responsible sourcing, logistics, food waste prevention and employee mobility.
Even in the most challenging area, Scope 3 emissions, which account for 99% of Sodexo’s footprint, the Group achieved a -19.1% reduction, a major step forward for our sector. At the same time, carbon intensity fell by more than 34% across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, demonstrating our ability to grow while cutting emissions.
This progress is driven by close collaboration with suppliers, clients, and partners, and by initiatives tackling key environmental issues from emissions and biodiversity to water and waste. Climate change brings risks to our operations and value chain, but also creates new opportunities to rethink how we source, serve, and manage our sites.
Building on this momentum, Sodexo has structured its environmental approach around three strategic pillars: responsible sourcing, sustainable eating, and on-site resource efficiency, which serve as the main levers for decarbonization, biodiversity protection, and long-term business resilience.
3 core pillars
Responsible sourcing
IMPACT AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE
Responsible sourcing is one of Sodexo’s most powerful levers for climate action and long-term resilience. As over 90% of our total emissions fall within Scope 3, largely driven by purchased goods and services, transforming our supply chain is not just an ethical commitment, but also a critical strategic lever to reduce environmental impact and drive systemic change across the value chain.
We are committed to building a trusted and responsible supply chain that supports both people and the planet. This means ensuring our products and services are safe, healthy, and reliable; partnering with suppliers who share our sustainability values; and championing inclusive sourcing that drives positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where we operate.
This approach targets upstream Scope 3 emissions, particularly those linked to agriculture, transport, and packaging, and embeds climate and nature considerations into every step of our procurement process. From supplier selection to long-term partnerships, we are shifting from transactional supply chains to collaborative ecosystems built on transparency, science-based targets, and low-carbon, locally sourced solutions.
By aligning our sourcing strategy with our Better Tomorrow 2028 roadmap and Net Zero ambition for 2040, Sodexo is actively tackling systemic risks like deforestation and resource depletion, while unlocking opportunities for innovation, collective impact, and value creation across our entire value chain.
COMMITMENTS AND TARGETS
The Group aims to transform the way it sources and collaborates by placing climate and environmental responsibility at the heart of its supply chains:
- ensuring a deforestation and conversion free supply chain globally by 2030 for the following priority commodities: palm oil, soy, beef and paper products. Land use change, including deforestation and conversion, is a major contributor to both carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Palm oil, paper, embedded soy, and beef represent the highest risk in Sodexo’s supply chain in terms of forest degradation and land-use change;
- Sodexo is committed to sourcing 100% certified sustainable disposable paper products by 2025. This includes hygiene paper and office paper. Sustainable disposable paper products are defined as products which are either produced from recycled materials or from certified renewable resources such as wood and paper from managed forests. While FSC certification is preferred, renewable sources may also be certified by PEFC, SFI, EU Ecolabel/EU Flower or Nordic Swan;
- Sodexo is committed to sourcing 100% physical sustainable certified palm oil by 2025 for our highest palm oil content products: cooking oil, frying oil and margarine. When it is not possible to source sustainable palm oil, Sodexo purchases RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) PalmTrace certificates to reward palm producers for working in a sustainable and responsible way;
- embedding climate and environmental criteria into sourcing and procurement processes, prioritizing suppliers with low-carbon products, responsible practices, improved farming practices. Sodexo is also expanding local and seasonal sourcing to reduce carbon intensity, supporting regional economies, and improving traceability;
- Sodexo is committed to having 100% of its tier 1 contracted suppliers sign its Code of Conduct;
- encouraging and supporting suppliers to set Science-Based Targets aligned with the 1.5°C trajectory;
- Sodexo has committed to source 100% sustainable fish and seafood by 2025 for all fish and seafood, fresh, frozen or canned;
- Sodexo has committed to source 100% cage-free shell and liquid eggs.