Sodexo Unveils International Sustainable Food Barometer with Harris Interactive

Key Takeaways:

• Sodexo releases the first international sustainable food barometer in partnership with Harris Interactive.
• To understand sustainable food perceptions and behaviors, a survey was conducted among 5,000 people in Brazil, France, the UK, and the USA.
• The study aims to identify barriers and enablers for transitioning to more sustainable eating habits.
• Findings reveal a positive attitude towards sustainable food but highlight gaps between aspirations and actual behaviors.

Sodexo, a leader in food services and facilities management, has partnered with Harris Interactive to conduct the first international barometer on sustainable food. The study, involving over 5,000 participants from Brazil, France, the UK, and the USA, provides groundbreaking insights into the current state of sustainable eating habits and perceptions.

Survey Insights and Findings

The study reveals several key findings:

1. Positive Perception of Sustainable Food:
   • Most (75%) hold a positive view of sustainable food, associating it with optimism and pleasure.
   • 59% believe that sustainable eating improves their quality of life.
   • There’s a universal urgency to modify eating habits, with 79% acknowledging the need for more sustainable behaviors.
2. Aspirations vs. Behaviors:
   • A disconnect exists between individuals’ perception of their diet’s sustainability and reality.
   • 56% believe their diet is already sustainable, yet high consumption of dairy and meat products persists, with a higher carbon footprint than cereals or legumes.
   • Changes considered by individuals are more about adjustments than a profound transformation.
3. Individual Benefits Drive Change:
   • Health benefits (46%) and cost savings (35%) are the primary motivators for sustainable eating.
   • Sustainable eating is often perceived as more expensive, and a third find it challenging to access sustainable products.

Focus on France

In France, the study shows unique trends compared to other countries:

• Higher urgency (82%) for sustainable eating.
• Greater emphasis on product composition, pleasure, and local origin.
• French consumers value pleasure in eating more than just health benefits.
• Stronger trust in farmers for leading the transition to sustainable agriculture.
• Less concern about the cost of sustainable eating, with many willing to pay more.

Sodexo’s Commitment and Strategy

Sophie Bellon, Chairwoman and CEO of Sodexo, emphasizes the company’s role in understanding and influencing individual practices towards sustainable eating. The company aims to drive change across the ecosystem to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable food practices.

Sodexo is taking proactive steps to influence the 80 million consumers it serves daily toward more balanced and sustainable eating. The company has identified four key areas to reduce its carbon emissions by 90% by 2040 across its value chain:

1. Products: Promoting local and sustainable agricultural practices and supporting suppliers in reducing carbon emissions.
2. Cuisine: Creating new sustainable recipes to label 70% of its main dishes as low-carbon by 2030.
3. Energy: Optimizing energy use at client sites and achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
4. Waste Reduction: Expanding its WasteWatch program to reduce food waste in its operations by half by 2025.