Does your organisation or business serve food, would you like a new accreditation?
Many of us are taking a number of actions at home to be more climate friendly, with lots of these centred around food – for example by reducing food waste, buying seasonal, having meat free Mondays, using refillable cups and bottles etc. But what about when we eat out? How do we know that we aren’t undoing all of our good work?
The answer may be in the new initiative being rolled out by Eco Communities and supported by the West Cheshire Food Partnership.
This new community-led project encourages businesses in the region to commit to a sustainable food pledge. Eco Communities are asking businesses that serve food in the area for their support by signing up to the national scheme.
Food for the Planet is a national accreditation scheme that encourages businesses and community groups to pledge towards sustainable food practices. The overriding Sustainable Food Places project, brings together your local council, individual residents, businesses and community organisations, with the aim of improving our local food system whilst also reducing our community’s impact on the wider environment.
Eco Communities are working with Cheshire West Voluntary Action and Cheshire West and Chester Council to roll out the Food for the Planet project in the region. The Food for the Planet Pledge is a menu of commitments to choose from to ensure that the food you serve is freshly prepared, local, seasonal, and supports the local economy.
To start, you are asked to just select one mandatory commitment below:
We have reduced the amount of meat and dairy served by at least 25%
We source at least 25% of meat and dairy from higher welfare, more environmentally friendly sources
You can then work with us to complete the remaining pledges which we ask you do by 2025. You might be doing some of this already, for example running a plant-based business, paying the Living Wage, or selling verifiably sustainable fish. If so, that’s great, you can count that on the form.
By taking the Planet Pledge, you will be joining a community of UK food businesses who are committed to serving meals that are better for people and nature.
We would love for you to show your support by adding the name of your organisation to the pledge – HERE(External link). Don’t hesitate to drop me an email if you would like to discuss the project or need any more information.
On behalf of Eco Communities thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope to welcome you as a Food for the Planet partner very soon. If you have questions email Helen T, Helen C and Angharad on office@sustainablecheshire.uk