Sodexo bans single-use plastic from its supply chain

Sodexo will be removing products containing polystyrene and single use plastics bags from its supply chain.

As of 1 February 2020 all foodservice items, including takeaway boxes and cups made from unrecyclable polystyrene, will no longer be available to purchase in Sodexo run outlets.

Sodexo previously announced in October 2019 that it would eliminate single-use plastic by 2020.

Ana Svab, corporate responsibility manager at Sodexo UK & 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.”

In May 2018, Sodexo banned plastics straws and stirrers, and since then, the company has reduced the use of polystyrene products by 84%.

Svab added: “Removing plastic stirrers and straws back in 2018 resulted in a reduction of 1.8 million 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 stop providing plastic bags and instead offer customers paper alternatives.

Svab concluded: “As a responsible business we acknowledge that action is critical to ensure that we do as much as we can to improve the quality of life of future generations and reduce the impact our business operations have on the environment.”