Sodexo, the world’s largest services company, was awarded the ‘Sustainability in Education Award’ at the Footprint Awards for its Green & Lean sustainable meal project.
The Footprint awards represents the annual celebration of the work that organisations in the foodservice industry and its supply chain are doing to in some way redress the balance for the benefit of themselves, their community and the industry at large. It is a celebration of initiative and innovation, of commercial imagination and endeavour that recognises those organisations leading the way.
Sodexo has been working with conservation charity WWF over the last three years with the joint objective to take WWF’s expertise in sustainable eating and bring it to life in a food service setting. Through the partnership we have trialled and developed meals that are both healthy and sustainable, but still tasty and attractive to consumers, while raising consumer awareness of sustainable eating.
Given its ethos and approach, Independents by Sodexo was a great test-bed for WWF and Sodexo to develop, trial and embed sustainable meals, and indeed to educate our young consumers about the impact of the food production on the environment.
Sodexo and WWF agreed 10 criteria to ensure the meals were nutritious, lower-carbon and responsibly sourced. The meals are based on the idea that by making simple switches, such as serving more wholegrains, vegetables and pulses, using dairy products lower in fat, and where necessary adding sugar and salt sparingly, meals will be better for our health. And by selecting seasonal fruits and vegetables and sourcing certified and sustainable meat and fish we can serve up food that is better for our planet too.
Independents by Sodexo is currently serving Green & Lean meals every week in 40 schools in England with plans to reach even more people in the coming year.
On Sodexo’s winning entry, the judges said, “A good project in independent schools which sets out what has been achieved. Obtaining WWF collaboration was a great achievement.”
Nick Hughes, Food Sustainability Adviser, WWF-UK commented, “We’re delighted that Sodexo has been recognised for its work in creating sustainable meals that are good for health and good for the planet. We look forward to working in partnership to develop more Green & Lean meals and ensure more people can choose great-tasting dishes packed full of vegetables, pulses and wholegrains.”
Jeremy Alderton, Managing Director, Independents and Private Schools UK & Ireland, said, “We are so thrilled and proud to have been awarded the ‘Sustainability in Education’ award at the recent Footprint Awards. To be recognised for improving sustainability in our Schools through our Green & Lean menus is just fantastic.
“We have worked hard and continue to engage with our clients and WWF to ensure we stay at the front of sustainable principles with a solid understanding of what our customers expect from Independents by Sodexo as a leading sustainable, healthy and nutritional food partner.”
Pictured: Selena Taylor from Honest, Tom Allen, food development director, Sodexo, Edwina Hughes, CR manager at Sodexo.