Waste360 Staff, Staff

April 20, 2016

2 Min Read
Sodexo Commits to Zero Food Waste

Sodexo announced it is implementing a multifaceted approach to eliminate food waste in landfills.

For the Zero Food Waste to Landfills commitment, one of many actions that Sodexo will take is to follow guidance in the Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste report released by ReFED.

The roadmap highlights 27 strategies that will put the U.S. on track to achieve the national target of 50 percent reduction in food waste by 2030, as established by the Obama Administration in September 2015.

"Americans generate more than 200 tons of garbage each year," Deborah Hecker, Sodexo vice president, corporate responsibility, said in a statement. "A key component of Sodexo's effort to reduce waste is building awareness around this important issue, internally as well as externally.  We have robust awareness training for our on-site managers, and we also work collaboratively with a wide range of external partners to raise public awareness."

Sodexo is also a member of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance and is participating in the International Food Waste Coalition's SKOOL initiative, which provides schools with the tools, expertise and resources to organize food waste measurement programs.

According to the company’s press release:

This collaborative approach is integral to the success of food waste reduction and recovery because consumers make choices every day that impact landfill diversion. Last year, Sodexo consumer awareness messaging reached 1,200 Sodexo accounts in North America and tens of thousands of people as a result.

Sodexo's Zero Waste commitment includes raising awareness, improving processes, measuring impact and sharing its expertise in a collaborative manner. It requires a combination of working with suppliers, managing the kitchen and making appropriate portions available so that less food is discarded.

Currently, 92% of Sodexo client sites reduce food waste with better portion control and improved meal forecasting preventing waste before it ever happens. This process, source reduction, is cited by the Environmental Protection Agency Food Recovery Hierarchy as the best way to prevent wasted food because these actions create the most benefit for the environment, society and economy.

It also released an infographic as part of the announcement.

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