Sodexo gives suppliers net zero progress deadline in new supply chain engagement strategy

Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced its net zero supply chain engagement strategy, and stated that from January 2030 it will only work with suppliers demonstrating tangible progress through published reporting. 

The food services and facilities management business was one of the first organisations to have its UK and Ireland net zero 2040 target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

The organisation has been transparent about its net zero journey and progress, including the fact that just 2% of its emissions sit in Scopes 1 and 2 – in the direct control of Sodexo UK & Ireland. Of the remaining 98% of its total emissions, 34% sit within its supply chain.  

Supply partners were first made aware of the net zero supply chain engagement strategy and roadmap in March 2023, during Sodexo’s Partners with Purpose supplier conference. The organisation had, however, already begun working closely with a number of its suppliers to support them in formalising and documenting expectations to reduce carbon emissions.  

Sodexo’s supplier mentoring programme is key to the success of this strategy. Around 70% of Sodexo’s supply chain in the UK and Ireland is made up of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), most of which cannot be expected to have teams dedicated to sustainability or afford consultancy support.  

While Sodexo is being very clear with its supply partners about expectations, the business is also offering considerable support where these organisations are experiencing challenges, to help them complete the work needed to hit the milestones. For example, Sodexo UK & Ireland has introduced a two-year grace period for SMEs and VCSEs needing extra help to complete some of the requirements.   

The first milestone is being implemented – Sodexo requires suppliers representing 75% of its supply chain emissions to provide a detailed annual Carbon Reduction Plan identifying opportunities for collaboration and areas of improvement, while also reporting on scope 1 and 2 emissions at the minimum. 

Further milestones that Sodexo has set on its roadmap include; from January 2024, the evaluation criteria of all tenders to include a minimum of 10% Social Value Weighting. By September 2025, suppliers representing 75% of Sodexo’s supply chain emissions will need to have set their net zero science-based targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  By January 2030, Sodexo will only partner with suppliers who can demonstrate tangible progress through published reporting. 

Find out more here.