More than one million people in the UK will be offered MSC certified sustainable fish in workplace restaurants, schools, hospitals and defence sites, thanks to leading foodservice provider Sodexo.

In a world-first, Sodexo has had all of its restaurants and cafés certified to serve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fish. MSC fish will be available in around a thousand sites ranging from Manchester Royal Infirmary, the Co-operative and Eton College to primary schools in Wiltshire, Colchester Garrison, Blenheim Palace and Chelsea Flower Show.

Hannah Arcaro, UK Foodservice Manager at the MSC, said: “What Sodexo has achieved is nothing less than amazing. Serving MSC certified sustainable fish at nearly a thousand sites will introduce a huge cross-section of British consumers to the issues around overfishing and how they can be part of the solution. By helping to reward the certified fisheries around the world, who have proven that they are fishing sustainably, Sodexo and its customers will be helping to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis.”

Michelle Hanson, Commercial Director, Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: "This is a landmark achievement for us. MSC certification of our restaurants and cafés was an ambitious target that we set ourselves as part of the Better Tomorrow Plan, our sustainability strategy to 2020.

"Like most people, we were alarmed to hear about declining fish stocks. Through MSC certification, we believe we are making a real difference in helping to protect the world's fish stocks.

"Traceability of our fish from boat to plate has always been very important to us. With the MSC Chain of Custody certification, we have complete assurance that every step of the supply chain has been certified to ensure that we know that every piece of MSC fish that we serve comes from a well managed fishery.

"We are passionate about sustainable sourcing at Sodexo and have really engaged with our staff and customers at each of our sites with training initiatives and promotional material to get everyone working together to support sustainable fishing."

Green Kings

Tough new targets for carbon emissions and water use have been launched by the British Brewing Industry.

The targets, in Brewing Green/Our commitment to a sustainable future for Britain's beer, a new report launched by the British Beer & Pub Association, call for a 17.5% reduction in overall CO2 emissions, and an 11% increase in water efficiency between now and 2020.

Britain's brewing industry already has an impressive record in reducing emissions and water use. These new commitments go well beyond any Government requirement or target. On carbon emissions alone, this means that the industry is committing to almost double the Government's 2020 carbon reduction target; 67% lower than 1990 compared with the UK target of 34%.

Sodexo scoops Springboard Award for Corporate Responsibility

Sodexo was praised for demonstrating "absolute best practice" in building corporate responsibility as an inherent part of its business plan "with demonstrable and remarkable results."

One of the Springboard judges said: "Sodexo's tight strategy is accompanied by sound investment and robust delivery plans and that is reflected throughout the business".

Thomas Jelley, corporate citizenship manager, Sodexo, said: "We are delighted to receive the Springboard Award for Excellence in Corporate Responsibility, it's a thrilling way to mark the first year of Sodexo's 'Better Tomorrow Plan', our sustainability strategy to 2020, and the efforts of colleagues across the UK and Ireland who have helped to bring it to life."

FPA Environment Seminar

The Foodservice Packaging Association has announced its second Environment Seminar, following on from the success of the first Environment Seminar held in January 2010 when more than 100 members debated key environmental issues.

The Seminar is being held at the Chesford Grange Hotel on Thursday January 13 2011 from 2.00pm to 4.45pm. The theme is ‘Foodservice Packaging - Strategies for Waste: Options to meet Changing Legal and Producer Responsibility Requirements’. A panel of high profile speakers has been secured including leading authority James Crick of Nampak Plastics, author of the DEFRA ‘Milkroad Map’ and Dr Peter Shonfield, European Technical Director of PE International, a leading expert in product Life Cycle Assessments (LCA's) and sustainability. The Seminar will be introduced by Mark Pawsey MP, who sits on the All Party Parliamentary Group for Packaging.

The event is followed by the FPA’s annual Business review dinner.

Please contact FPA Secretary Martin Kersh for more information: admin@foodservicepackaging.co.uk