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Our comprehensive roadmap to net zero and complete decarbonisation in the UK and Ireland

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We have been on our journey actively tackling our climate impacts for over a decade following our partnership with WWF who have supported us in measuring and reducing our carbon footprint. 

We set a baseline in 2017 that covered not just our scope 1 and 2 direct operations, but all scope 3 categories across our value chain.

Scope 1 emissions relate to those emissions that we make directly, including the fuel we use in our vehicles and the heating of our offices. Scope 2 emissions refer to the indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, such as powering our offices or charging electric vehicles. Scope 3 refers to all other indirect emissions that occur in our value chain, including supply chain, business travel, employee commuting, and client site energy and waste.

In 2022, we became the first foodservice, and one of the first organisations globally to have both near and long-term science-based targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), as we prioritise decarbonisation to reach net zero*. These targets were updated in 2023 to increase the ambition level and to set FLAG (forest, land and agriculture) science-based targets, which takes account of land-based emissions and removals in land-intensive operations, such as agriculture.

Our comprehensive regional roadmap and transition plan to reach net zero by 2040 outlines our targets and key actions.

We are making great progress having already exceeded our short-term target, delivering a -37% reduction in scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions in FY23 compared with our FY17 baseline. 

This commitment forms part of our wider social impact pledge and will enable us to continue to support and improve the communities in which we live, work and serve.

Net Zero timeline

Download the Net Zero timeline (JPEG)

* Sodexo is committed to net zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2040

  • Short-term Emissions Reduction Target: to reduce in absolute terms our scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 34% by 2025 against a 2017 baseline.
  • Near-term Emissions Reduction Target: to reduce in absolute terms our scope 1, 2 and 3 (Non-FLAG) GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 against a 2017 baseline. We commit to reduce scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 against a 2017 baseline. 
  • Long-term Emissions Reduction Target: to reduce in absolute terms our scope 1, 2 and 3 (Non-FLAG) GHG emissions by 90% by 2040 against a 2017 baseline. We commit to reduce scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 72% by 2040 against a 2017 baseline.
     

We're on track to reach our targets

This update presents externally verified emissions data for the reporting year ending 31 May 2023.

 

Our progress report includes emissions across all our activities including our direct operations, our activity at client sites and our supply chain across the UK and Ireland.

 

We believe that being transparent about what we’ve done and what we’ve yet to do is vital to bringing others on the journey.

Download the report

Our carbon transition plan

Our Net Zero transition plan details how we will meet our climate goals, which includes:

Our Carbon Reduction Plan details how we comply with the requirements of the UK Government’s Procurement Policy Note 06/21.

Our latest GHG (green house gas) emission data is available here. (updated December 2023).

Engaging our supply partners

We work with more than 4,000 supply partners in the UK & Ireland, spending over £800m with them every year. 
 

Initial research from November 2021 revealed that, of 87 suppliers polled, 62% had already made a commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050 or sooner, while 20% did not have a Carbon Reduction Plan in place.
 

We are working closely with a number of our suppliers to support them in formalising and documenting expectations to reduce carbon emissions, using our net zero supply chain engagement strategy.

Download the roadmap
Net Zero supplier roadmap

Learn more about Sodexo UK and Ireland’s Net Zero Supplier Engagement Strategy and hear from one of our SME supply partners, Soho Sandwiches, about their net zero journey and how they have responded to the deadlines we have set. 

-37

%

reduction in FY23 across our scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions compared with our FY17 baseline