WasteWatch: Our Commitment to Reducing Food Waste

At Sodexo, our mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve all around the world. Given our corporate footprint and food purchasing reach, fighting the global crises of climate change and hunger must be part of that mission. Sodexo is championing these efforts by reducing the amount of food that goes to waste on our watch.

How the Sodexo Food Waste Program Works

Sodexo began developing its food waste prevention program, WasteWatch, powered by Leanpath (WWxLP), more than a decade ago, and Sodexo groups have since deployed WWxLP at sites across the globe. The program allows Sodexo teams to easily capture food waste data, so they can make operational improvements to trim costs and reduce excess food.

The pilot sites confirm that the program works: on average, Sodexo locations reduced food waste by 50%. Now, it’s time to project that success across the company. We are committed to deploying WWxLP across all Sodexo sites by 2025.

 

How WWxLP Can Make A Difference

The statistics are in and they’re staggering – one-third of the food produced for human consumption goes to waste each year. Here are some key ways that WWxLP is helping facilities make a measurable difference across the globe.

 

Reducing Food Waste Improves Food Security For Everyone

Even in a prosperous nation like the United States, 1 in 7 people face food insecurity – meaning that they don’t know always where their next meal is coming from (Source: The World). When we all do our part to reduce food waste in our homes and workplaces, we can help get food to those who need it.

 

Seamlessly Integrated Into Your Daily Operations

Whether food waste is generated in the kitchen or by residents throwing away food, Sodexo teams can use WWxLP to easily capture food waste data and take action to drive cultural and behavioral change. Entering daily food data takes just 7 minutes a day – making it quick and easy to integrate into your facility’s processes. What’s more, Sodexo provides everything you need to get started with WWxLP, including:

• Changing behavior at work, at home and in the community
• Fostering an alignment of employee and corporate values
• Providing education

 

Improving Facility Efficiency Through Automated Tracking

The data that WWxLP provides can help your facility:

• Fine-tune your menus and operating procedures
• Make the invisible visible so your staff can identify opportunities for efficiency
• Track your progress and results easy

 

Reducing Single-use Items and Boosting Recycling

Single-use packaging – including containers, boxes, cups, bowls, utensils, wraps, bags, lids, straws, and stirrers – are damaging oceans, seafood, wildlife, and the broader environment. Cutting down on single-use packaging is at the core of our fight against waste. We’ve introduced innovative packaging and recycling solutions, such as reusable materials, bioplastics, and organic material, to help prevent plastic waste from ending up in landfills.

 

Improving Your Fiscal Bottom Line

The business case for WWxLP is clear: pilot sites realized savings up to 4.4% on purchases, reduced waste disposal costs and it typically costs less than 30% of total savings, with ROI within one year.

 

Partner With Sodexo To Make Meaningful Change

Sodexo is focused on preventing all forms of waste through changes in processes, consumer education and collaboration with external partners. Sodexo aims to follow the principles of the circular economy to ensure all waste has a beneficial use and by promoting reuse, recycling, and composting to eliminate avoidable waste going to landfills. 

We are committed to improving food security and nutrition status for all global citizens. We carry out this mission through our WWxLP program – putting the power of reducing food waste in your hands. Partner with us to help reduce your facility’s food waste by up to 50%.