20 Years of Food for Life: Sustainable Catering

Our Sustainable Catering Awards are industry leading benchmarks for sustainability in catering which help hundreds of caterers to serve food that’s good for us and good for the planet. Once a caterer signs up, they’ll receive support to purchase and serve food which is good for climate, nature and health as part of Food for Life Served Here, and through reducing the energy, water and waste produced in the kitchen as part of the Green Kitchen Standard.

Our expert team are also on hand to provide bespoke support, whichever sustainability targets a caterer is looking to meet.

Cool Food Pro, a project on which Soil Association are partners, is a free carbon calculator tool that generates potential environmental savings for caterers who adjust their working practices. In the project’s first two years, 110 caterers were supported to save 1,530 tonnes of Co2e.

We know how challenging things are for caterers right now, and we couldn’t be prouder to be working alongside the brilliant people feeding the nation every day. When working with Food for Life, and the wider network of Soil Association and partners, caterers can feel confident that they’re being guided by experts with years of experience in the catering sector, from farm to fork.

Gary Leesley, Trust Catering Manager at Steel City Schools Partnership who achieved their Food for Life Served Here Award in 2023, shares: “It’s been difficult in the current climate, with challenges around food prices and availability, but achieving the Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award is well worth the effort for the end result which is better food, nutrition, and food education for our children.”

Caron Longden, Senior Business Development Manager at Food for Life Served Here, says: "It’s testament to the commitment of our award holders to prepare and serve food that is great for climate, nature and health even when times are tough economically and following an unsettled period coming through a global pandemic. We are so proud that we are seeing growth in meal numbers and caterers looking to move from Bronze Awards to Silver and Gold Awards. Our team of experts is here to support on every step of your journey, whether you’re an award holder or making small changes that make a big difference. Talk to us to see how we can help you in your aspirations to provide the best food you can."  

Begin your Food for Life journey today.