Sodexo Announces Membership in the "Better Buying Lab" to Develop Sustainable Food Strategies

World Resources Institute partnership with Sodexo to enable consumers to make more sustainable food purchase decisions

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Sep 13, 2016, 04:27 ET

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, announced today that it has become a member of the Better Buying Lab, a new initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) that brings together the food industry and some of the brightest minds from consumer research, behavioral economics and marketing strategy to test and scale new ways to help consumers buy products that have a lower environmental impact.

This partnership will help Sodexo enable its customers to choose more sustainable food options. It's an opportunity for Sodexo to effectively promote healthier choices that also reduce the company's carbon footprint, as well as that of its client partners.

"The future of food is moving toward sustainability, but there's so much we have to learn about how to enable consumers to change their diets," said Daniel Vennard, director of the Better Buying Lab. "As one of the world's leading facilities management and food service companies, Sodexo reaches millions of people every day, giving us an unparalleled chance to engage with diners in new ways."

The Lab's first phase of work will identify key consumer and business barriers that prevent people from adopting more plant-based diets. Building from this research, new ideas will be tested in partner restaurants to determine the most effective solutions. These insights will then be shared with a range of stakeholders, from chefs to sustainability managers, in order to scale successful strategies worldwide.

Sodexo will support the Lab throughout this process and use the insights gained to enable more customers to choose sustainable-food options by working seamlessly in line with how people actually shop for their food.

"Research has found that three quarters of Americans think it's important that the food they buy is sustainable," said Sodexo director of engagement, Rachel Sylvan. "But getting consumers to change their buying habits is not an easy or straightforward process. Simply presenting consumers with information won't lead to large-scale changes in purchasing."

Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.

Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, SodexoInsights.com. For more information about the Better Buying Lab, visit: www.betterbuyinglab.org.

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