Talk of sustainability has spread across many different industries in the past few years, and the catering industry is one of them. Economic and environmental changes have seen more companies invest in techniques to lower their negative environmental impact.
What this means for food suppliers
Government Buying Standards state several criteria for catering services and food suppliers to maximise their sustainable procurement. This includes producing food to higher environmental standards, taking into consideration ethical trading and animal welfare. Also, food must be supplied with higher nutritional standards, reducing saturated fat and salt content as well as increasing the availability of fruit and vegetables. On top of this, catering supplies must be of a high standard and aim to reduce both waste and energy consumption. An amendment to these standards was added in 2012 involving the sourcing of palm oil.
Research into sustainability
Recent research by the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association highlights a positive move towards sustainable practices. More than 80 per cent of businesses asked by the organisation believed that sustainability has been an important factor in their business growth.
The majority of companies recognise that reducing energy consumption is also a big factor, and emphasising the benefits of saving energy could encourage the further advancement of sustainable products.
The main benefits
Long term cost reduction is one of the main benefits of sustainability. Companies which effectively reduce waste and energy use can lower their monthly electricity bills. While these savings can undoubtedly help catering companies, it’s the customers who these savings are passed onto who will really benefit.
Limits on waste and reductions in energy consumption are also beneficial to the earth; meaning effective catering practices can also help to protect the environment.
Contributions of catering
There are a number of ways the catering industry can contribute and already has contributed to sustainable practices. These are often recognised by events such as the Footprint Awards, which encourages companies to embrace sustainability.
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