Foodservice firm’s net-zero supply chain engagement strategy wins at two top sustainability awards 

PHOTO CAPTION: Sodexo UK & Ireland’s sustainability director, Claire Atkins Morris (centre) receiving the Supply Chain Decarbonisation Award at the Reuters Sutainability Awards from host, Shaun Williamson (right). Sodexo’s business development director for corporate services, Paul Tilson is pictured with Claire on the left.

Sodexo UK & Ireland’s sustainability director Claire Atkins Morris (centre) with Reuters Sutainability Awards host Shaun Williamson (right) and Sodexo business development director for corporate services Paul Tilson

Foodservice company Sodexo UK & Ireland’s net-zero supply chain engagement strategy has won two national awards for sustainability excellence.

The firm, which delivers food services to schools, universities, healthcare and government institutions, was awarded the Supply Chain Decarbonisation award at the Reuters Sustainability Awards, and the Supply Chain Initiative award at the National Sustainability Awards.

The awards, which took place in London last week (1-2 October), recognised Sodexo’s net zero supply chain engagement strategy, which provides a framework for its supply partners to decarbonise before 2030.

Sodexo began developing this strategy in 2022 after calculating that 34 per cent of its scope-3 emissions arose from its 4,000-strong supply chain partners.

Sodexo first made its supply partners aware of the strategy in March 2023 at its Partners with Purpose supplier conference before finalising the strategy and roadmap for deployment later that year.

The business says it offers “considerable support” to supply partners to help them complete the work needed to hit the milestones.

Sodexo’s supplier mentoring programme is key to the success of its strategy, according Lisa Fisher, director of supply management, Sodexo UK & Ireland.

Around 40 per cent of Sodexo’s supply chain in the UK and Ireland is made up of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), most of which cannot be expected to have teams dedicated to sustainability or afford consultancy support, she says. So, built into its strategy, there is a two-year grace period for SMEs and VCSEs needing extra help to complete the requirements.

Commenting on the awards, Fisher said: “We are delighted that the work with our supply partners to reduce carbon emissions collaboratively has been recognised at these prestigious awards.

“The response from our supply partners has been extremely positive with many having already submitted their carbon reduction plans and seeking guidance through our mentoring programme which we are pleased to say now includes support from a number of like-minded large organisations.

“We continue to work closely with our supply partners to meet the milestones within the strategy and we thank them all for their continued support and engagement.This strategy demonstrates how at Sodexo we are going beyond target setting and making commitments to supporting a whole economy transition.”

Sodexo, in partnership with FuturePlanet, has created a sustainability community of practice, a platform bringing together sustainability leaders from diverse client and supplier organisations.

Sodexo employs some 30,000 people In the UK and Ireland, and is part of a global foodservice group that was founded in France in 1966.

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