Social Responsibility

Sodexo is committed to improving the quality of daily life for people, whenever and wherever they come together. To that end, Sodexo was one of the first contract food service companies to partner with Food Alliance. This non-profit organization promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways. Together, Sodexo and Food Alliance take responsibility for educating our customers and others in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture.

Every day, we make choices in the food we buy and the food we eat. This directly impacts our lives- not just what we eat, but the water we drink, the air we breathe and the health of our communities. Our Food Alliance guiding principles are:

• Protecting and conserving water resources
• Protecting and enhancing soil resources
• Conserving and recycling nutrients
• Reducing the environmental and health impacts of pesticides by practicing Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat
• Providing safe and fair working conditions for our employees and our families
• Producing Food Alliance certified crops without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO's)
• Provide healthy and humane care for livestock
• Continually improving farming/ranching practices

Sodexo.  Committed to a better tomorrow.

“We have a responsibility to use our resources wisely and to protect them for future generations,”
Arlin Wasserman, Sodexo Vice President of Corporate Citizenship

On campuses around the country, Sodexo is committed to developing and measuring ways to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, promote responsible waste management and reduce the use of toxic chemicals.  Our efforts will advance new models of sustainable community development through local sourcing, use of seasonal products and sustainably grown food.

• It starts with what we do with each of our clients
• It extends to how we serve our customers
• It continues through how we act as a company

Sodexo Education makes a difference on campuses by partnering with our clients to set strategic targets and measure results in three key areas:

• Food Sourcing – We support local businesses and communities by purchasing from local producer and growers.   Sodexo buys 100 percent of our fresh dairy products from local and regional farmers.  For the future, we have committed to serve only farm and ranch products that are sustainably grown by local producers and minority and women owned businesses.

For instance, at Linfield College in Oregon, we feature a wide array of locally grown and sustainable ingredients in our program.  Linfield utilizes Food Alliance-certified foods whenever possible and strives to source local for fruits and vegetables, beef and other items. Our meal plans and catering menus feature fresh, seasonal ingredients using sustainable and locally grown food.

• Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction – Food production accounts for about one-third of the water use and 10 percent of the energy use in the U.S.  We are testing products and systems at 12 campuses to tell us about state-of-the-art equipment and procedures that will help us reduce resource consumption.  

As an example of what’s possible, we partnered with students at Ithaca College to do a water, energy and equipment audit.  Though this process, we learned many things, including the fact that dining halls require five times more energy than lecture halls or offices.  We identified short and long range ways to curb energy use that include installing energy-efficient exhaust fans, making employees more aware of energy use and adding light sensors.  The changes we implement will cut Ithaca’s energy bill by nearly $140,000 per year through low-cost or no-cost projects. 

• Waste Minimization – Food service waste is the single largest contributor to our landfill system.  That means we have tremendous opportunity and responsibility to make positive change. 

Our programs engage students like no one else in our industry.  For instance, at St. Leo University in Florida, we conduct a “Weigh the Waste” campaign.  Each day, students’ dining hall waste is weighed and tracked.  At the beginning of the school year, the average day has about 800 pounds of waste.  Once the students start to see the results of their daily efforts, their total waste drops to about 200 pounds a day and stays there for the rest of the school year. 

In addition, 40 percent of our campuses have trayless dining and, as a result, experience a 30 percent drop in food, water, energy and chemical waste.  Our new reusable take out container program, “Green with Envy,” could reduce disposable waste on a campus by as much as 80 percent.  

Sodexo is the premier campus services partner because we focus on creating exceptional student experiences.  We deliver on that promise through five key areas, including culinary innovation, student insights, health and wellness, customer service and sustainability programs.

STOP Hunger: Since 1999, the Sodexho Foundation has been committed to being a driving and creative force that contributes to a hunger-free nation. In order to eliminate hunger that affects 36 million people in the U.S., we must fight its root causes... [ more ]