Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced that it is on track to meet its food waste reduction goal of 50% by 2025, five years ahead of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.

This target is a key part of the company's sustainability strategy, contributing to its net zero roadmap for 2040.

The goal was initially set in 2017 as part of Sodexo's Better Tomorrow commitment. To reach it, the company has rolled out its WasteWatch programme across 530 sites in the UK and Ireland. The programme captures food waste data, providing clear insights into the types and reasons for waste. This allows teams to implement operational and behavioural changes to eliminate avoidable food waste, whether it originates in the kitchen or is generated by consumers.

Sodexo said that since its launch in 2015, WasteWatch has helped prevent over 10,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to the energy use of 1,000 homes per year. It has also saved more than 2.7 million meals from going to waste.

Currently, Sodexo has achieved a 45% reduction in food waste at sites using WasteWatch, and the company is confident it will meet its 50% reduction target by 31 August 2025.

Claire Atkins Morris, sustainability director at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: "As a business serving a million meals every day, reducing food waste is one of the most effective ways we can cut carbon emissions and drive meaningful change".

"WasteWatch gives us the data and insights needed to understand where waste is happening and take targeted action to prevent it. By embedding this approach across our sites, we are not only making a significant impact on our environmental footprint, but also contributing to a more sustainable food system. As a global leader in delicious, sustainable and nutritious food, we are committed to driving innovation that benefits both people and the planet."