With the Better Tomorrow 2025 programme, the French multinational is reviewing its commitments towards people, communities and the environment.
Let's start with the numbers: 425,000 employees. 75 million people served worldwide. 50 years of activity. These are the "measures" that give an idea of how significant the company's impact is, on society and, of course, on the environment. In Italy alone, Sodexo has 10,600 employees, who serve 8,000 clients and provide their services to 380,000 consumers.
At the end of 2016, Sodexo Italia received the Best Employer Program certification, a recognition that Aon Hewitt awards to the most virtuous companies in relation to their employees. According to Nadia Bertaggia, the group's human resources director, "Sodexo Italia was among the first 16 Italian companies to sign, in 2009, the Charter for Equal Opportunities and Equality at Work, and has subscribed to the United Nations' seven principles for advancing women's empowerment, joining at the beginning of 2016 the He for She campaign by UN Women in support of gender balance," citing one of the many company initiatives.
In 2017, the group reviewed its corporate social responsibility roadmap, aligning it with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. "Better Tomorrow 2025 represents the latest evolution of this trend and reflects the current environmental and social changes the world must address," explains Michel Landel, Sodexo's chief executive officer, in a press release. "The Group has set ambitious targets and I am proud that Sodexo continues to play a leadership role in social responsibility."
In this context, and of course taking into account the activities carried out by Sodexo, the new programme focuses on three themes in particular: the fight against hunger, reducing gender inequality and the fight against food waste. The Group provides support to populations at risk of malnutrition, redistributes food surpluses and funds community gardens to encourage food self-sufficiency. As in Cambodia, where Sodexo donated 35,000 euros to a school for the creation of gardens cultivated according to the principles of permaculture. These gardens produce seven tonnes of fruit and vegetables a year, allowing the school to save over 18,000 euros per year.
In 2011, the Group created "WasteWatch powered by LeanPath", a global food waste prevention programme that makes it possible to identify the causes of waste and define an action plan to reduce it. Sodexo also shares its expertise by collaborating with other companies and NGOs to reduce food waste. In 2015, the Group co-founded the International Food Waste Coalition.
Also noteworthy is the attention paid to gender equality, when one looks at the figures provided by the company: 50 per cent of the members of the Board of Directors and more than 30 per cent of senior managers are women.
These results have led Sodexo to climb the international ranking that assesses companies' performance from an economic, social and environmental standpoint. The annual Djsi assessment is based on an analysis of more than 3,900 listed companies worldwide, examining the numerous aspects that form part of companies' core business. Commitments that Sodexo has translated into a 34 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint compared to 2011, by 2025. To achieve this ambitious goal, a partnership has been signed with WWF for a progressive reduction in carbon emissions.
