Sodexo GroupResearch commissioned by Sodexo confirms the growing expectation of UK consumers for low-carbon options and carbon labelling on menus.
Sodexo UK & Ireland has partnered with the Zurich-based research and climate organisation Eaternity to calculate the carbon footprint of all its dishes and, will be adding carbon labels to menus at more than 300 sites by the end of 2024.
The initiative supports a pre-existing commitment by the French multinational foodservice and facility services provider to ensure 70 per cent of main dishes are low carbon by 2030,
Research commissioned by Sodexo in March from Savanta to determine how familiar UK consumers are with carbon labelling and attitudes towards low-carbon meals, revealed 60 per cent of respondents said they do not recall ever having seen carbon labelling on food products or menus.
One in five people (20%) indicated they actively seek out food products and places to eat that include carbon labelling as this makes it easier for them to manage their carbon footprint. This almost doubled to 39% among those aged 18-24.
Twenty-eight per cent supported the idea of paying a little more for a food product or restaurant that was low-carbon or offered low-carbon options – a figure that increased to almost half (47%) for the 18-24 age group.
More than a third of survey participants (36 per cent) said they expect restaurants and food-to-go outlets to offer low-carbon options and provide carbon labelling. While 40% said they expect food products to feature carbon labelling.
Sodexo’s chefs continue to work hard to reformulate recipes and develop new ones to create low carbon dishes and meet its target of 70% of its main dishes to be low carbon by 2030, a key lever in its SBTI-validated net zero targets.
Charles Abraham, Food Director at Sodexo UK & Ireland, comments: “We are committed to helping our consumers make informed and sustainable meal choices, without compromising on taste or affordability. Our chefs relish the opportunity to use the Eaternity data to rework our traditional favourite dishes as well as adding new, exciting low-carbon options that everyone will enjoy.”
Manuel Klarmann, CEO of Eaternity, adds: “Eaternity is delighted to be working with Sodexo on a shared ambition to help society move towards a more sustainable food future. Trustworthy and transparent information is key to helping diners make more sustainable choices and understand the difference they can make every mealtime.”
According to the WWF, global food systems account for around 30% of all greenhouse gases emitted around the world. The organisation also stated that bringing the current UK diet down to 3.12kg CO2e per person per day would deliver over half of the food emissions reductions needed by 2030.
A universally recognised definition for a low-carbon meal doesn’t currently exist, so Sodexo has conducted a review of existing research and with guidance from its technical partner, WWF, has set its own definition as one for which the production generates 0.9 kgCO2e or less. Sodexo also estimates that by 2030, its carbon savings in food services will be 100,800 tCO2e, which is the equivalent of flying around the world 8,579 times, representing a 38.24% reduction compared to its baseline figure published in 2017.
We are facing a triple challenge: continuing to produce the food we need while addressing the twin threats of climate change and nature loss.
Lisa Huggins, Food Service Sustainable Diets Manager at WWF UK, says: “We are facing a triple challenge: continuing to produce the food we need while addressing the twin threats of climate change and nature loss.
“There is a huge opportunity for food businesses like Sodexo to help address this challenge by enabling people to make healthier, sustainable food choices. Alongside staff training and customer education, environmental impact labelling, such as carbon footprint labelling, has the potential to raise awareness of the impacts that the meals we enjoy can have.
“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Sodexo as they seek to deliver this work.”
Sustainable food plays a key role in Sodexo’s journey to net zero 2040 and according to its first Sustainable Food Barometer, published earlier this year, 73 per cent of consumers believe adopting a more sustainable way of eating is now urgent.
Sodexo UK and Ireland embarked on its net zero journey in 2010, calculating its scope 1 and 2 emissions, in partnership with WWF. In January this year, Sodexo reported that it has achieved a 37 per cent reduction in absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across scopes 1, 2 and 3, compared to its baseline year of 2017 – putting the organisation ahead of schedule on its net zero 2040 roadmap.
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