ENVIRONMENTAL PLEDGE

Effective Date: March 01 2025

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGE

INSIGHT → ACTION. MEASURABLE PROGRESS. SECTOR-WIDE MOMENTUM

The UK Food Council, environmental sustainability isn’t a campaign theme — it’s a performance standard. As a B2B alliance we bring operators, suppliers, innovators, advisors and policymakers together to reduce environmental impact while strengthening resilience, compliance and commercial outcomes across UK foodservice.

We’re also proud to hold Approved Partner Status with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reinforcing our commitment to credible collaboration and stronger food systems.

OUR PLEDGE

We pledge to measure, reduce and improve— transparently, practically, and at pace — across the areas where foodservice can make the biggest difference.

1) MEASURE WHAT MATTERS

We will promote clear, comparable measurement — helping members and partners move from intent to evidence, including practical approaches to footprinting, reporting and supplier engagement.

2) REDUCE FOOD WASTE FIRST

Food waste is one of the fastest, highest-impact levers available to food businesses. We will champion prevention, better forecasting, smarter production planning, safe redistribution, and waste-to-value innovations — with real operational playbooks, not vague ambition.

3) CUT CARBON THROUGH SMARTER OPERATIONS

We will encourage improvements that reduce emissions while improving margins: energy efficiency, refrigeration performance, kitchen design, maintenance discipline, logistics optimisation and technology that removes waste from the system.

4) SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

We will advocate for sourcing that strengthens long-term supply security and environmental outcomes — including seasonal and local supply where it improves resilience, and approaches that protect land, biodiversity and farming viability.

5) DESIGN LOWER-IMPACT EVENTS AND PROCUREMENT

We will continually improve our own practices — including the way we procure, travel, print, cater and deliver events — prioritising waste prevention and practical, measurable reductions.

6) RAISE STANDARDS THROUGH COLLABORATION

We will use our convening power to accelerate sector progress: focus groups, briefings, and partner-led working sessions that turn best practice into standard practice.

7) REPORT WITH CREDIBILITY

We will share updates through UK Food Council channels — and encourage members and partners to do the same — so that progress is visible, comparable and trusted.

WHAT WE ASK OF MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

Environmental progress works when it’s shared and operational. We ask members and partners to:

• Bring data and honesty(what’s working, what isn’t, what’s next)

• Pilot practical solutions and share learnings

• Align claims with evidence and avoid “green gloss”

• Help scale proven interventions across the wider sector
  
  

RESOURCES AND PUBLIC LINKS 

UK Food Council pages:

• Sustainability: https://www.foodcouncil.uk/sustainabilityUK Food Council

• Partnership (FAO Approved Partner Status): https://www.foodcouncil.uk/partnershipUK Food Council+1

• Insights hub: https://foodcouncil.uk/insightsUK Food Council
  
  

External standards and practical toolkits:

• WRAP (Hospitality & Food Service): https://www.wrap.ngo/sectors/hospitality-food-service

• GHG Protocol (Corporate Standard): https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard

• SBTi (Net-Zero Standard): https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero

• UK Government GHG conversion factors:
  https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting
  
  

CALL TO ACTION

If you want sustainability that stands up to scrutiny — and works on the ground — join the UK Food Council and help build the next generation of resilient, responsible foodservice.

Enquire:
Collaborate:hello@foodcouncil.uk
Partnership:partnership@foodcouncil.uk