Sodexo, Aramark, Initial and Whitbread score on corporate responsibility

Sodexo, Aramark and Whitbread have once again made it into Business in the Community's (BITC) newly-published, pan-industry Corporate Responsibility Index 2009.

Launched in 1996 to help companies benchmark their environmental management and performance, the index is run in association with the Financial Times and this year features contract caterers Sodexo, Aramark and Initial, as well as Premier Inn owner Whitbread.

Sodexo has achieved silver status for the fourth year running. The news comes in the same week that its food manufacturing business Tillery Valley was awarded Carbon Trust Standard for improving its carbon efficiency by 19.5% per tonne of product manufactured over a three-year period.

The BITC recognised Sodexo for a commitment to and measurement of corporate responsibility throughout its business, which is an integral part of the company's worldwide sustainability strategy, the Better Tomorrow Plan.

Phil Hooper, Sodexo corporate affairs director, said: "Over the last year, we have taken significant strides to consolidate this approach to corporate citizenship challenges, not least through the launch of the Better Tomorrow Plan. Participation in the CR Index guides this approach and helps us keep track of best practice."

Initial-Rentokil, which includes education arm Eden Foodservice and business and industry caterer Autograph, was also awarded silver status for the third year in a row.

Fellow caterer Aramark once again achieved bronze status after its second entry into the index.

Val Carter, corporate responsibility director at Aramark, said the company had concentrated efforts on reducing its environmental impact and stepped up momentum in core strategic areas including the employee benefits programme and local food sourcing.

She added: "Working with BITC to achieve certification solidified our commitment to corporate responsibility and further demonstrates the company's credentials in this area; it's a true mark of our leadership in the food service industry"

Whitbread, owner of Costa, picked up a bronze award.

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By Janie Stamford

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