Aramark, Philadelphia, announced a new 2025 sustainability plan, Be Well. Do Well., focused on positively impacting people and the planet.
The new plan is built around several key priorities, including:
- People priorities: to engage employees, empower healthy consumers, support local communities and source ethically and inclusively.
- Planet priorities: to source responsibly, operate efficiently and to effectively manage food waste, packaging, emissions and other activities that could adversely impact the environment and planet.
“Aramark strives to do our part with respect to environmental, economic, social and ethical considerations,” says Kathy Cacciola, vice president, enterprise sustainability. “Be Well. Do Well. focuses our efforts to help people and our planet, as we serve our client partners, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Aramark’s people priority is to facilitate access to opportunities that will improve the well-being of its employees, consumers, communities and people in the supply chain.
With respect to the environment, Aramark is focused on several initiatives, including climate change. The company is working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by offering more vegan and vegetarian meals, sourcing responsibly, operating more efficiently, minimizing food waste and reducing packaging.
Be Well. Do Well. reaches further in accelerating a positive impact on people and planet over the next five years, including:
Engage employees. Aramark’s management and operational leadership teams currently include approximately 56% women, and 57% of the workforce is racially/ethnically diverse.
Empower healthy consumers. Aramark has effected a 15% average reduction in calories, saturated fat and sodium across its menus served in workplaces, hospital cafes and college and university dining halls, where 30% of menu offerings are now vegan or vegetarian.
Support local communities. Since the inception of Aramark Building Community in 2008, Aramark volunteers impacted more than 5 million adults and children in underserved communities, helping to improve community health and the employment success of youth, adults and families.
Source ethically and inclusively. Aramark works with over 6,000 small and diverse suppliers to supply goods and services to support clients. About 18% of those are formally certified as diverse suppliers, and will focus on supporting diversity among the company’s ecosystem of supplier partners.
Source responsibly. Building upon work surrounding animal welfare and sustainable seafood, Aramark has also made a commitment to implement a no-deforestation policy. The company is acting on commitments to purchase broiler chickens, eggs and pork from partners who embrace humane practices.
Operate efficiently. Aramark is executing on initiatives that aim to materially improve fuel efficiency over the next three years.
Minimize food waste. Aramark has eliminated more than 15 million pounds of waste since 2015, contributing to the company’s overall goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.
Reduce packaging. The company has reduced its purchase of plastic straws and stirrers by 20% over the last year, with a goal to reduce purchase of these items by 60% by the end of 2020.
