Sodexo bans unrecyclable polystyrene and single-use plastics

Sodexo has removed products containing unrecyclable polystyrene and single-use plastic bags from its supply chain. Environmental protection is one of the focus areas for the caterer as part of its Better Tomorrow 2025 commitments, and over the past couple of years it has stepped up its efforts to minimise the impact of its operations on the environment.

In May 2018, plastic stirrers and straws were the first items to be banned. Since that time the collective efforts of its teams has already resulted in an 84% reduction in the use of polystyrene items, and since 1st February all foodservice items such as takeaway boxes and cups made from unrecyclable polystyrene have been unavailable to purchase.

Ana Svab, corporate responsibility manager for Sodexo UK and Ireland, said: “We have already made positive steps towards reducing the amount of unrecyclable plastic products used in our business, and we are thrilled with the efforts made by our teams to phase out their use of these products and the response received from our clients and customers.

“Removing plastic stirrers and straws back in 2018 resulted in a reduction of 1.8m of each being used and thrown away. As with straws and stirrers, we are asking our teams to run down their existing stocks of these items to avoid creating any further unnecessary waste.”

Sodexo’s retail operations will also stop providing single-use plastic bags and will offer customers paper or reusable bags to purchase as an alternative. Over the last few years for every carrier bag it sold, the caterer donated to the Marine Conservation Society to aid in the organisation’s efforts to turn the tide on plastic pollution on beaches and in the ocean.