Sodexo reduces GHG emissions by 33%

Sodexo UK&I has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 33% since its baseline year of 2017, which equates to over 300,000 tCO2e.

According to the group, it has achieved this reduction by implementing a continuous improvement strategy, which included the design and introduction of a carbon trajectory tool to support the analysis of Sodexo’s GHG emissions to reach the group’s climate targets.

The reduction in GHG emissions has been achieved by implementing a continuous improvement strategy including the designing and introduction of a carbon trajectory tool to support the analysis of Sodexo’s GHG emissions and identifying key actions and reduction levers to reach its climate goals.

By the end of 2022, the group has also reduced its emissions by one-third against the 2017 baseline. While there was an expected dip in emissions during the pandemic, there was an increase of emissions since FY21.

In addition, Sodexo joined the Climate Group’s RE100 initiative and committed to switching to 100% renewable electricity globally by 2025 at its directly controlled sites. In the UK&I, 92% of electricity was procured from renewable sources in FY22.

Meanwhile, in November 2021, Sodexo launched a 100% hybrid and electric vehicle company car policy across the UK. All diesel and petrol cars have been replaced with electric and hybrid alternatives.

Sodexo also continues to deploy its food waste prevention programme, WasteWatch, to reduce food waste by 50% by 2025, five years ahead of the UN Sustainable Development goal.

Sodexo’s next key milestone in the UK&I is to reduce its GHG emissions by 55% against the 2017 baseline year across all three scopes by 2030.

Claire Atkins Morris, director of corporate responsibility at Sodexo UK&I, said: “Sodexo is committed to reducing its impact; and data is fundamental to this. We are continuously looking at ways to improve how we calculate and measure our data so that we have a clear picture of our emissions and impact.

“Despite the progress we have undoubtedly made, we know there is a way to go and that it is not about mitigation, it’s about adaptation – organisations need to consider how they do business to be able to meet their commitments and make an impact.”

Sean Haley, CEO of Sodexo UK&I, added: “These figures show that we are moving in the right direction toward a significant reduction in our carbon emissions. This progress is of course, in part down to the work of our team of sustainability experts whose dedication to developing and measuring our detailed action plan has kept us on course to meet our commitments.

“Their efforts would be for nothing if the changes and improvements being made throughout the business were not being taken up and activated by our 30,000 plus colleagues – net zero is a collective task, for which we are all responsible. It is this combined effort that enables us to live up to our social impact commitments and make a positive contribution to the communities in which we live, work, and serve.”