CASE STUDY: SODEXO
Sodexo’s net zero supply chain engagement strategy was launched in 2023 to address the business’ supply chain emissions.
Sodexo has an ambitious net zero 2040 target with near and long-term science-based targets which have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), yet 99% of all Sodexo’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the UK & Ireland sit in scope 3, outside the direct control of the business, and 34% of those are in its supply chain.
As the net zero 2040 target is based on 90% decarbonisation across all three scopes, Sodexo must be committed to taking action to address these if the outcome is to be truly meaningful and have real impact.
Its supply chain includes working with more than 4,000 supply partners in the region, spending over £800m with them every year. Half of this spend is with small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) and Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprises (VCSEs).
As such, many of these smaller supply partners cannot be expected to have teams dedicated to sustainability or afford consultancy support – this is where Sodexo has stepped in.
The supply chain engagement strategy is built on partnership and mentoring, working closely with these businesses to support them in formalising and documenting expectations to reduce carbon emissions.
In turn, suppliers are expected to follow a roadmap laid out by Sodexo (see Figure 1 for the full roadmap), which includes having their own net zero targets validated by the SBTi. The roadmap concludes in January 2030, by when it will cease working with any supply partner unless they can demonstrate tangible progress through published reporting. SMEs and VCSEs will have a two-year grace period to accommodate the extra help needed to complete some of the requirements.
Thomas Kneale is an SME supply partner participating in Sodexo’s net zero mentoring. The business has since won the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
“What we’ve achieved has been beyond expectations. Over the last few months, I have gone from a fairly limited understanding of net zero, to having scope 1, 2 & 3 calculations from base year to present on a carbon measuring tool. We’ve also signed up to our first 100% renewable electricity tariff, which is key to making a significant reduction in our scope 2. We are now talking to our supply chain about their ongoing activities and emissions. We couldn’t have done this without Sodexo’s help.” — Brett Mendell, Director, Thomas Kneale.
Sodexo has been encouraged by the enthusiastic response to this challenge and by offers from other businesses, including its clients, to provide net zero mentoring as part of this programme. As a result, the business is confident that the roadmap will deliver ever more impactful reductions in emissions.
At time of writing, Sodexo had already cut its supply chain emissions by 30% compared to its 2017 baseline – a 100,903 tCO2e reduction, equivalent to flying around the world 8,581 times.
For more information about Sodexo’s net zero ambition and the supply chain engagement strategy visit: Reducing carbon emissions (sodexo.com)
