Sodexo’s Government & Energy business saves one million meals in five years
This week Sodexo UK & Ireland's Government & Energy business has reached a major milestone in its ongoing commitment to reduce food waste by announcing it has prevented the equivalent of one million meals from being wasted since the business-wide implementation of its data-driven food waste prevention programme, WasteWatch, in 2021.
The one million meal reduction, a milestone achieved during the same week of the United Nations's International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, translates to roughly 500,000 kilograms of food waste.
This achievement reflects collective efforts made by Sodexo Government & Energy catering teams at more than 140 locations, including military sites, blue light services, prisons, government agencies, and major energy sites.
According to the United Nation's Environment programme, roughly a third (32 per cent) of all food produced globally ends up being wasted, making food waste one of the greatest contributors to climate change.
The milestone equates to more than 3,500 metric tonnes of carbon emissions reduced during the same period, according to WasteWatch, which addresses the overproduction of food through the closer tracking, measuring and analysing of food waste using data and insights.
This year-to-date alone, the Government & Energy business has reduced food waste by more than 150,000 kilograms, surpassing its annual waste reduction target ahead of time, and it has deployed the technology at a prison site for the first time, with HMP Forest Bank.
More than half of all locations have recorded a 50 per cent reduction in food waste in 2026.
Today’s announcement comes as Sodexo UK & Ireland reported last year that it had reached its target to halve food waste by 2025, achieving a 50.2 per cent reduction, and hitting the UN SDG 12.3 target five years ahead of schedule.
We are proudly an industry leader in reducing food waste. Today’s one million meal reduction milestone is testament to the collective and consistent efforts made by colleagues across our business over many years.
Sodexo is passionate about making our services more efficient and sustainable for our clients, reinforcing why we are the partner of choice across Government, Defence, Justice, and Energy sectors.
Sodexo continues to tackle food waste within its food services as part of its Net Zero 2040 roadmap.
Our 2026 net zero progress report shows how investment in lower-carbon operations is helping clients reduce emissions, meet compliance requirements and deliver measurable commercial value across their workplaces and sites. Read the release.
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