Sodexo progresses on its plastic commitments by replacing five items with new, more sustainable options across Europe

Highlights

  • Decision goes beyond upcoming EU legislation by removing takeaways bags in addition to straws, plates, cutlery and stirrers
  • Marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to prioritize alternatives to plastic for single-use items in its operations

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, is removing key single-use plastic Food Service items at all its sites in Europe by making only paper, cardboard, wood or fibre-based straws, takeaways bags, plates, cutlery and stirrers options available.

Sodexo becomes the largest catering company to implement such a commitment in Europe, in advance and going beyond the upcoming European Union Single-Use Plastic Directive taking effect July 1st, 2021. These items have already been replaced in our purchasing catalogues since March 1st in 15 countries, representing 88% of our European On-site Services revenues.

"Sodexo serves 100 million consumers every day, and the reduction and elimination of non-essential plastic from our sites can have a real impact through the size and scope of our business."

"Our European plastic commitment is an important step of our journey, and our Supply Management team will continue to collaborate with vendor partners to identify innovative appropriate alternatives to plastic and source more sustainable solutions."

François BlanckaertSodexo’s Chief Procurement Officer

Sodexo is phasing out remaining inventories of plastic items at concerned sites across Europe. Working with our Healthcare & Senior and Justice clients, where alternative-material options are not always adequate for medical reasons or for security concerns, Sodexo will keep the use of single-use plastic items to a minimum.

For remaining plastic items used in its food services sites such as central kitchens containers, take-away food containers, cups and lids, Sodexo continues to evaluate sustainable alternatives that meets applicable sanitary criteria inline with our corporate responsibility commitment to champion responsible resources usage across our operations. Sodexo also works with local authorities, suppliers and partners towards more reusable options and increased recycling rates at our sites.

Reducing our reliance on single-use plastic is part of the positive impact of doing business with Sodexo.
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