The outsourced services contractor Sodexo UK & Ireland has stated its commitment to pledges in an ethical manifesto. These include gifting up to 25 per cent of its apprentice levy to small and medium enterprise (SME) suppliers, enabling them to create 100 new apprenticeships; cutting food waste by half across all its sites by 2030; and ensuring 40pc of its spend is with SME and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) suppliers – above the Government’s own target of £1 in every £3.
This represents the fourth iteration of Sodexo’s Social Impact Pledge. First published in 2015, the business has reported on its progress against the pledges each year. This year, the pledges are focused on four ‘social impact pathways’: our People, our Planet, our Places, and our Partners.
The business says that it’s taking additional steps to provide its people with support, as well as helping those within its communities that need it most to secure suitable employment that could start their career, help them re-train or take the first steps to long-term rehabilitation.
Sodexo has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 34pc by 2025, in line with the Paris Agreement; moving to 100pc reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025. The firm says that it has committed to supporting the UK Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Sodexo has continued to commit to providing support for its partners, particularly SMEs and VCSEs; skills-based mentoring and coaching, pro bono technical and professional support and 30-day payment terms.
Each social impact pathway aligns to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Sodexo’s strategic sustainability roadmap, Better Tomorrow 2025; providing a clear measurement framework for capturing and reporting on the company’s social impact.
Sean Haley, Sodexo Regional Chair, UK & Ireland said: “It has never been more important than it is right now to operate with purpose and responsibility. Last year, despite the unprecedented circumstances, we fulfilled our commitments laid out in our 2019 ethical manifesto, meeting and even exceeding the ambitious targets we had set ourselves. You are, however, only as good as your last performance, so our challenge now is to continue to do even better. Covid-19 has touched every aspect of our work and personal lives, so this year our pledges reflect the impact the pandemic has had, and directly contributes to improving the communities we work within.”
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