Sodexo's Better Tomorrow Plan offers sustainability: 7/29

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Sodexo's Better Tomorrow Plan offers sustainability

By Debbie Petitpain
Dietetic Services

Sodexo, the international food service company that runs the cafeterias on MUSC campus, is committed to creating a more sustainable and healthy food service.

In 2009, Sodexo launched a plan for a more sustainable future, the Better Tomorrow Plan, which details 14 commitments aimed at protecting and restoring the environment, supporting local community development and promoting health and wellness. Each of these commitments will have a measureable target for progress during the next 10 years, the results of which will be publically reported.

Here are several examples of the action-oriented commitments:

Sodexo has pledged to source only sustainably certified fish and seafood. The goal is to have 100 percent of the contracted fish and seafood certified as sustainable by 2015. MUSC is doing its part by purchasing seafood with Marine Stewardship Council or Best Aquaculture Practices certifications.
Sodexo has pledged to increase the purchase of products sourced from fairly and responsibly certified sources. Current certifications include Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance and include products such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea and tropical fruits. At MUSC, we serve Rainforest Alliance coffee in our cafeterias and Fair Trade coffee at Starbucks.
Sodexo has pledged to source local, seasonal or sustainably grown and raised products. We are proud to serve locally grown produce as supplied by our vendors in the MUSC cafeterias and on the patient tray lines.
Sodexo has pledged to promote choices with reduced sugar, salt and fats. At MUSC, healthy options are available daily as denoted by the Wellness and You logo on menu boards and prepared foods and the listing of wellness items on our menu line. We also provide nutritional information at the point of selection for all foods in the cafeteria and on our website. Sodexo has also pledged to provide and promote varied and balanced food options. Last spring, we launched our Meatless Monday campaign to highlight the delicious vegetarian options available in the cafeteria.

Through its worldwide presence, Sodexo employs 380,000 employees in 80 countries and serves 50 million consumers daily. The plan encourages partnerships between Sodexo, MUSC, our customers and suppliers to make incremental changes on a scale that can make a real difference.

For information, visit http://www.sodexousa.com/usen/citizenship/citizenship.asp.

Friday, July 29, 2011

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