Emerging Sustainable Diet Leads Healthy Life - Sodexo Supports 2023 National Nutrition Week

Shanghai, May 17, 2023 - The local promotion activity of National Nutrition Week was held at IBP International Conference Center in Changning District of Shanghai.

This event is hosted by Shanghai Branch of National Nutrition Steering Commission and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission with support from member units of Shanghai Nutrition Innovation Platform. On the afternoon of the event, Sodexo, a global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, participated in the session of “Emerging Diet Mode and Relevant Food Pollutant” together with Meiji (China) Investment Co., Ltd. Hosted by School of Public Health, Fudan University, this session is part of the promotion of the National Nutrition Week. Sodexo shared its exploration on emerging sustainable diet modes in an effort to evolve the concept of sustainable diet.

With the theme of “Emerging Diet Mode and Relevant Food Pollutant”, this session is hosted by School of Public Health, Fudan University. Gao Xiang, Professor of School of Public Health, Fudan University, and Qin Huanlong, President of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, delivered opening remarks at the session. Qin Huanlong, President of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Chen Bo and Gao Xiang of School of Public Health, Fudan University, Grace Han of Sodexo China, Toshihiro Otsu, Director of Meiji China Lactic Acid Bacteria Research Center, experts and enterprise representatives attended the session and delivered speeches, and exchanged scientific research results and dietary nutrition innovation practices.

According to a global survey conducted by Sodexo among executives in the fields of human resource, operation, purchasing and catering/facilities, 73% of leaders agree that the sustainability strategy and practice are growing increasingly important, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. During the session, Grace Han, Director and head of Government, Public and Corporate Affairs, Greater China, Sodexo, shared the company’s pioneering insights into emerging sustainable diet including how to achieve the social and environmental benefits of circular economy through reducing waste in food production and consumption.

Sustainability Actions - Global Project of Stop Hunger

In 1996, Sodexo established Stop Hunger, an international non-profit organization, aiming to fight against global hunger and malnutrition and works for a world without hunger through sustainable actions by leveraging the unique ecosystem of Sodexo. So far, 41,000 volunteers from 54 countries are mobilized, around 8.5 million meals are distributed with 52 million people benefiting from the initiative.    

In China, Sodexo provides food assistance for households, schools and students in need through donating foods, kitchen and vegetable garden.

Sodexo Contributes to National Nutrition and Health through Sustainable Food Service System

• Prepare healthy and sustainable foods by increasing the proportion of vegetables and plant-based meat while preserving the flavor, so as to reduce the carbon footprint of food production and its impact on the environment
• Combine healthy diet concept with the Chinese traditional culture of health maintenance based on 24 solar terms, and stress on diversification and balance of seasonal ingredient
• Organize sustainable diet campaign like “Empty your plate” and “Food waste reduction week” to call on customers and consumers to reduce food waste

Promote Sustainable Development as a Responsible Enterprise

As a global company, Sodexo implements a localization strategy for its core business. So the development of its supply chain is closely connected with its business development in local markets.

Sodexo firmly believe that a more inclusive supply chain may help it fulfill its mission of promoting sustainable purchase. From production to delivery, each step in the supply chain generates carbon emission, which accounts for 50% of Sodexo’s global carbon footprint. As the first catering and facilities management services enterprise that sets carbon emission reduction target for Scope 3 emission (carbon emission generated by procurement supply chain), Sodexo not only promotes products that help reduce carbon emission and reduce the use of plastic goods, but also cooperates with suppliers that commit to reduce carbon emission.

Technology is one of our important tools to reduce food waste. As early as in 2019, Sodexo has deployed WasteWatch (a monitoring system for food waste) in multiple operation sites around the world. This is an intelligent system that may effectively reduce food waste in food preparation through capture and intelligent analysis of food waste data. WasteWatch may change the awareness of people on food waste from the initial step of food preparation, thus generating more positive impact on the environment. Since the deployment of WasteWatch in Greater China in June 2021, Sodexo has deployed WasteWatch in approximately 200 operation sites. It has recorded a total food waste of 5,259 tons and reduced food waste of 702 tons (as of May 17, 2023)