Catering giant publishes its Social Impact Pledge 2030
Sodexo has set out new commitments that it said will create meaningful impact for its people, planet, places and partners in the UK over the next five years.
The commitments come as the catering giant publishes its Social Impact Pledge 2030, marking 10 years since it first began reporting on its progress. The company said that over the course of the last decade, it has evolved its commitments in line with the changes in legislation and in business and societal priorities.
The publication of ‘Social Impact Pledge 2030: everyone, every day, everywhere’ recognises how much more there is still to do, Sodexo said, and builds on the foundations of the last 10 years with recognition of how complex societal challenges are and how its understanding of those challenges has deepened.
Sodexo’s 2030 vision is split into four impact pathways. ‘People’ covers the company’s pledge to nurture inclusive and equitable workplaces, measuring its progress through its position on the Social Mobility Employer Index.
That includes providing access to apprenticeships, driving sustainable employment for individuals with criminal convictions, and supporting veterans, reservists and military families to find employment opportunities.
Under ‘Planet’, Sodexo said it will continue to decarbonise its business, staying on track for net zero in 2040. It said it will do this by following the science, taking steps such as re-baselining, as its knowledge and systems evolve and its understanding of the data and how it is used continues to improve.
Sodexo’s near-term target to reduce its emissions across all three scopes by 55 per cent is 31 August 2030. It pledged to continue to work closely with its supply partners, who account for 38 per cent of its emissions, to do this.
In the category of ‘Places’, Sodexo said that by 2030 its Stop Hunger Foundation will have supported more than 12.5 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
And under ‘Partners’, it said it will increase diversity in its supply chain and spend over £1 billion with SMEs and diverse suppliers by 2030.
Jean Renton, chief operating officer at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “When Pierre Bellon founded Sodexo, he understood that people’s daily environment – whether at work, in school or in hospital – has a profound impact on their wellbeing, productivity and happiness. He created a business to provide services that add true value to those daily environments. From serving nutritious and sustainable meals, to delivering welcoming and functioning spaces. It’s just how we do business.
“Through our new Pledge, which launches nearly 60 years later, we are building on that legacy to add ever more value for the people, businesses and communities whose lives we touch.
“Today we face new complex societal challenges, and it is right that our commitments evolve to reflect those. Our Social Impact Pledge 2030 illustrates our mission to foster a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive future, with every one of our 30,000 colleagues playing a role every day in delivering this positive change.
“I truly believe that if we accomplish what we have set out today, we have every reason to be confident of a better tomorrow.”
