Cateys 2025: Sustainable Business Award: Sodexo

Rigorous targets and stakeholder engagement are key to making meaningful change when it comes to sustainability.

 

In an era of fast-evolving climate change, which brings a host of new challenges for hospitality businesses, those who are going above and beyond when it comes to making a difference to the world around us must be commended for their actions.

 

And this year’s winner has certainly taken action. Sodexo UK & Ireland has been working to decarbonise since 2010, when it secured early validation from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and started to embed a net-zero culture in the business.

 

For a business of Sodexo’s size, getting a hold on food waste was critical, and thanks to investing in tools such the WasteWatch measurement system, it has cut food waste by 50%.

 

Capturing and acting on data is key, and supported by its partner Eaternity – which has scored 22,000 of its recipes for environmental impact – it is now able to make smart, low-carbon, more nutritious swaps when developing dishes and working with partners. This has led to it reducing food-related emissions in its supply chain by 32.9%. Ensuring 33% of main meals are plant-based and aiming for low-carbon meals by 2030 are other ways it is ensuring food doesn’t contribute to furthering the climate crisis.

 

So much of a hospitality business is reliant on its third parties and supply chain, and these Scope 3 emissions account for 99% of Sodexo’s footprint, meaning stakeholder collaboration was a key lever in the company’s ambition of reaching net zero by 2040. The foodservice company implemented a net zero supply chain strategy, committed to working only with suppliers that show meaningful emissions reductions by 2030, and it has already achieved a 31.8% reduction in supply chain emissions.

 

In 2023, Sodexo launched a community of practice in partnership with FuturePlanet, offering a safe space to discuss shared challenges, which has grown from six founding members to a thriving network of more than 50 sustainability leaders.

 

It also inspires colleagues to play their part communicating the company’s wider goals and upskilling workers to learn green skills, with 72% of staff participating to date. Meanwhile, chefs are encouraged to take part in Sodexo’s Cook for Change! global competition, which celebrates culinary and sustainability excellence.

 

Guests in business and industry and schools are encouraged to come along on the journey too, with Sodexo’s Modern Recipe brand offering plant-forward menus, carbon labelling and pop-up events in corporate environments. Pupils at its school contracts are also exposed to award-winning, climate-friendly meals, while learning about the importance of sustainability in the food system.

 

Clients increasingly want foodservice companies to show they are offering sustainable practices, and the maturity of Sodexo’s approach is critical to attracting new business and expanding its footprint with existing clients. Take its partnership with aerospace company Leonardo, which has recently been extended thanks to Sodexo’s sustainable credentials, including installing an all-electric kitchen and a menu focused on seasonal, low-carbon dishes that are sustainably sourced.

 

For Sodexo, delicious, nutritious and sustainable food goes hand-in-hand with business success. The judges were impressed by the scale of action from a business of such significant size, and all agreed that Sodexo’s sustainability achievements can be held up as an example for the industry to follow.

 

What the judges said

“Sodexo continues to inspire others to follow, delivering real impact at scale” Annelie Selander

 

“An incredibly comprehensive submission showing the breadth of initiatives being actioned and the clear scale of the impact the changes can have” Will Browning

 

The shortlist

• The Hari, London
• Houston & Hawkes
• Sodexo
• The University of Manchester
• Wahaca

The judges

• Will Browning, the Sustainable Restaurant Association
• Mark Chapman, Zero Carbon Forum
• Ciara Fitzpatrick, Red Carnation Hotels
• Danny Pecorelli, Exclusive Collection
• Annelie Selander, WSH
• Sue Williams, Positive Hospitality

If you would like to enter the 2026 Cateys, or you know someone who you would like to nominate, register your interest for updates