Social Pantry’s Approach to Sustainable Contract Catering
Sustainability isn’t just about preserving the planet, at Social Pantry, we believe that environmental and social concerns are connected. We see our business as ‘a force for good’, so as well as doing our bit for the planet, we want to make a meaningful impact on its people too.
From sourcing seasonal, local produce to championing zero-waste practices, we aim to set a gold standard in sustainable catering. Our approach combines environmental responsibility with social impact, proving that good business can—and should—be a force for good. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
We Use Seasonal, Local Produce
We partner with local suppliers to minimise our carbon footprint and support nearby communities, creating our dishes from the freshest, seasonal, local produce. We caused a stir a few years ago when we banned all avocado from our menus, citing deforestation, soil degradation, funding of drug cartels, and contributing to climate change as just a few of our reasons why. Social Pantry makes these tough decisions so you don’t have to. When you choose to work with a sustainable contract caterer, you can rest assured that ethical, sustainable choices are being made for you.
We Operate a Zero-Food-Waste-To-Landfill Policy
We cleverly devise our menus to make the most of the whole ingredient, whether that’s using multiple cuts of meat from the same animal, or every part of a fruit or vegetable, root to leaf, in order to minimise waste. Any unavoidable food waste is fed into our anaerobic biodigester, which uses a natural biological process to efficiently break down food, turning it into a liquid that can be discharged into our normal plumbing.
We Have Gold Standard Recycling
We’re certified Gold by First Mile for our recycling rates. First Mile operates a zero-to-landfill policy that offers many recycling streams, with non-recyclable waste harnessed for green energy generation. Collections operate on an all-electric fleet and are optimised to utilise clean-air routes.
We’ve Removed Global Plastic Polluters from Our Drinks Menu
Back in 2023 Social Pantry made the choice to ban certain drinks brands based on issues such as poor environmental practices, tax avoidance, unethical sourcing, human rights, worker’s rights and animal welfare, which included the world’s biggest plastic polluters – Coca Cola and Nestlé. Instead, we welcomed drinks brands that align with our values. These include Dalston’s (vegan and carbon-neutral), Cawston Press (uses “wonky” produce to cut down on food waste), and Belvoir Farm (supports biodiversity through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme).
We Only Use Reusable or Compostable Serveware
We use real crockery, cutlery, tableware and glassware at the majority of our event and workplace catering, so that it can be washed and reused time and time again. For any events or workplaces that require ‘grab-and-go’-style catering, we use fully compostable packaging which can be disposed of in a standard food waste bin and biodegrades.
We’ve Switched to Electric Vehicles
At Social Pantry, we have switched all our fleet of delivery vans to electric, cutting carbon emissions by 75% with every trip that we make. This transition to electric vehicles ensures greener, more sustainable deliveries and operations.
We Work with Prison Leavers
We’re proud to be the leading employer of prison leavers in the hospitality industry. Since 2015, we’ve employed over 35 people who were previously serving time and in 2023, 11% of our workforce were prison leavers.
We Work with Sustainable and Ethical Suppliers
We partner with a carefully-chosen selection of suppliers who share our values, amplifying our collective impact on the planet. We source wheat and flour from Wildfarmed, who champion regenerative farming and prioritise soil health; traceable, MSC-certified British fish from Daily Fish Supplies; coffee from the first prison-based coffee roasters, Redemption Roasters; and ethically and environmentally-sourced meat from Europe’s first B Corp butcher, The Ethical Butcher, to name just a few.
We’re a Member of the Better Business Act Coalition
As part of the Better Business Act coalition, we’re committed to transforming how businesses operate to create a fairer, greener future. The coalition advocates for changes to UK law to ensure all businesses align their interests with the wider benefit of society and the environment. By joining this movement, we’re reinforcing our pledge to prioritise purpose alongside profit in every decision we make.
We Work With a Sustainability Consultant
We’ve partnered with sustainability consultancy Bold Green Strategies, who help us to continuously evaluate and improve our operations, from reducing emissions to enhancing our waste management systems, ensuring that sustainability remains at the core of everything we do.
We’re a Certified B Corp
We’re proud to have recently been officially certified as a B Corp, a prestigious certification which recognises our commitment to balancing profit with purpose, ensuring we prioritise the well-being of people and the planet in everything we do.
