Sodexo has released its 2015 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report. The Report tracks Sodexo’s progress against a series of measures relating to environment, local communities, nutrition, health and wellbeing and the workplace.
Sourcing
The Report shows that Sodexo has made particularly good progress in the area of sustainable, responsible sourcing.
85% of the coffee Sodexo sells is fairly traded; with the company’s fair trade Aspretto coffee range now served at more than 200 sites.
In addition, the Report shows Sodexo’s continued commitment to the Marine Stewardship Council. Sodexo is the leading foodservice supplier of MSC-certified fish in the UK, serving sustainable fish at more than 375 schools and universities, 54 hospitals, 150 defence sites and 350 company restaurants, visitor attractions and national events.
Gender balance
Through its Diversity & Inclusion Council the company’s focus on gender balance is reflected in a year on year rise in the representation of women in management positions. In 2014 women accounted for 30% of Sodexo’s senior management, beating a target of 25%.
Public Service Pledge
The Report comes hot on the heels of the launch of Sodexo’s Public Service Pledge, its ethical manifesto for the company’s contracts and conduct, for citizens and communities. The Pledge includes a set of commitments which are designed to help Sodexo UK & Ireland contribute to a fairer and better society. These include commitments to join the Living Wage Foundation’s Service Provider Scheme and to conduct an equal pay audit of all its staff, reporting on the findings and addressing any unjustified discrepancies.
CR commitment
Sodexo’s commitment to CR has been recognised this week by BITC in its 2015 CR Index, a scorecard for businesses to help measure, manage and integrate responsible business practice. Sodexo has been awarded a rating of 93% (or 3.5 stars), up from 87 in 2014 and compared to an average of 91% for UK businesses. Sodexo has also been shortlisted for the Championing an Ageing Workforce Award category of the BITC Responsible Business Awards.
Edwina Hughes, Sodexo UK&I’s corporate responsibility manager, commented: ‘Sodexo’s CR Report represents a lot of hard work from people right across the business. I’m delighted that we are seeing good progress in key areas such as sustainable sourcing and diversity and inclusion, and it is great to have that work recognised through BITC’s CR Index and Responsible Business Awards.
Charitable fundraising
“Charitable commitments are a cornerstone of Sodexo’s CR work and, this week, Sodexo’s employees will be taking part in a series of fundraising activities to coincide with its Stop Hunger Day on 21 April. Through the company’s global Stop Hunger initiative, Sodexo’s employees donate time, skills and money to tackle hunger, support good nutrition and promote life skills in local communities.
“Last year our employees raised a massive £440,000 for Stop Hunger. People volunteer and raise money all through the year, but we wanted to create a sense of collective achievement around our charitable giving this year, which Stop Hunger Day allows us to do. We’ve had a brilliant response and on the 21 April people from right across the company are getting out to fundraise for Stop Hunger.”
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