CHARTWELLS WINS FOOTPRINT AWARD
Exciting news - Chartwells was handed the Sustainability in Education Award at this year's Footprint Awards, held on 13th June 2024. The Footprint Awards celebrate excellence in environmental sustainability and responsible business practices, and we’re proud to be recognised for our efforts in promoting sustainability within the education sector.
Our commitment to a greener future
At Chartwells, we are passionate about empowering and educating children and young adults to choose nutritionally balanced recipes that are sustainably sourced, prepared and served. Our sustainability roadmap focuses on three main areas: menu reformulation, reducing food waste and education. Each of these pillars plays a crucial role in our mission to create a more sustainable world for future generations.
Innovating menus for a lower carbon footprint
A key part of our strategy is menu reformulation. Partnering with Foodsteps, we have analysed over 2,000 recipes to accurately measure their carbon footprints. This data-driven approach allows our culinary teams to innovate and develop recipes that not only delight our students but also have a lower environmental impact - making every meal we serve a step towards a more sustainable future.
Slashing food waste with cutting-edge technology
Food waste is a significant issue in the catering industry which we’re committed to addressing head-on. We have implemented a new digital food waste tracking tool to measure and monitor food waste across our operations, helping us identify areas for improvement and implement effective waste reduction measures.
Empowering the next generation of sustainability champions
Education is at the core of our sustainability initiatives. We believe that empowering young people with the knowledge and skills to make sustainable choices is key to driving long-term change. Our goal is to educate 1 million pupils on sustainable diets by 2030, and we’ve made significant progress so far. In the last academic year alone, we reached 106,000 pupils through sessions delivered by our dedicated nutrition team. These sessions equip students with the understanding they need to make informed, sustainable choices in their daily lives.
Making bold moves towards positive change
As the UK’s leading school and education contract caterers, we know we’re in a good position to create and inspire a more sustainable world. Alongside the wider Compass Group UK & Ireland, we have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To meet this climate promise, we are rethinking how we prepare and deliver food, supporting local suppliers, sourcing seasonal ingredients and developing plant-forward menus. Our meals are more than just a combination of ingredients; they are a tasty representation of our commitment to positive change.
Going beyond basic sustainability
Sustainability is embedded in everything we do. We go beyond basic practices, such as separating and recycling waste on-site, to identify opportunities for replacing single-use items with reusable alternatives. We train our teams to source, cook and serve food responsibly, ensuring that our partnerships benefit from our hands-on approach to delivering exceptional food in the most ethical and environmentally friendly way possible.
We also work closely with our clients to meet their individual climate targets. For instance, we support our university partners in reducing their carbon footprint by bringing Too Good to Go partnerships to campuses and ensuring transparency in our catering contracts.
Heading forward, one meal at a time
Winning the Sustainability in Education Award at the 2024 Footprint Awards is all down to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Together, we can create a planet-friendly future for our students, empowering them to make a positive impact on the world. A big thank you to the Footprint Awards for this recognition and to our partners and clients for their continued support. We’re excited to continue our journey towards sustainability, one meal at a time.