Gaithersburg, MD, Dec. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sodexo announced today that its Better Tomorrow 2025 goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 34 percent globally, a Science-Based Target aligned with the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, was recognized as industry-leading by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
“Sodexo is ahead of the competition in establishing an overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent and quantifying the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate-intensive foods,” according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Sodexo anticipates that approximately one-half of its carbon reduction target globally will be achieved through changes in its supply chain, including increasing plant-based purchases, food waste management and collaboration with suppliers to improve production practices and reduce supply-related transportation. Further analysis of company emissions revealed that at least 70% of the U.S. supply carbon footprint was related to animal-based food purchases in fiscal year 2020.
“We are very proud of our company’s efforts to establish a robust, science-based target,” said Ted Monk, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sodexo North America. “We are focused on doing the difficult, but necessary, work to realize that goal by focusing on the key areas of opportunity within our organization, including advancing plant-based diets, preventing waste, sourcing responsibly, and managing energy efficiently.”
Sodexo understands that addressing diet-related emissions will be required to reach its carbon target. Building from the company’s launch of 300 plant-based recipes and the introduction of dishes featuring lower-impact Future 50 Foods, the company remains committed to creating innovative and nutritious plant-based menu items that encourage sustainable diet adoption. Some of Sodexo’s key partners include WWF, WRI (World Resources Institute) and the Humane Society of the United States.
For 15 years, the Humane Society of the United States has worked closely with Sodexo to improve the welfare of animals in its supply chain, and most recently has collaborated with Sodexo to provide culinary trainings and customized plant-based menu concepts that are planet-friendly and free of animal products.
“Our team of chefs and food service experts are excited to keep working hand-in-hand with Sodexo to bring more plant-based foods to customer’s plates,” said Josephine Morris, Food Policy Manager at the HSUS. “By providing corporate and account-level consulting, we will continue to support Sodexo’s culinary teams to expand their mastery of plant-based menu development and implementation, marketing and customer adoption. Providing more plant-based foods is a win-win-win situation: it decreases animal suffering, encourages healthier eating and takes pressure off our already over-strained planet.”
Sodexo is developing additional targets which will guide its culinary teams in finding the optimal menu balance of animal to plant ingredients and drive accountability toward meeting our overall carbon reduction goal. Training at all levels of the organization and beyond, including effective consumer engagement and consumer behavior campaigns developed with third-party partners will be key to realizing the targets. Implementing a sustainable eating strategy will require active engagement across the entire organization through a comprehensive project management and change management process.
Sodexo has made significant improvements to date, including:
- its commitment to protect forests and peatlands as we move towards a deforestation and conversion-free supply chain globally by 2030 starting with the highest risk commodities;
- signing of the 10x20x30 food waste and loss initiative bringing together ten of the world’s biggest food retailers and providers to each engage with 20 of their priority suppliers with the aim of halving food loss rates and waste by 2030; and
- its commitment to reduce food waste in company operations by 50% through its WasteWatch powered by LeanPath tracking system and donation of surplus food at our sites.
Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow 2025 roadmap outlines the company’s individual, community and environmental goals and continues to make progress. For more information, visit our website.
About Sodexo North America
Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 64 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 160,000 people at 13,500 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $17B in goods and services from small to large businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., in 2019, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation mobilized 37,000 Sodexo volunteers to distribute 3.2 million meals to help 2.3 million children and adults meet their immediate food needs. Since 1996, the Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed $34.5 million to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit us.sodexo.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
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