Sustainable Food

Sustainable Food

Find out what Kent is doing to increase Sustainable Food across our food offering.

Sustainable Food at Kent: Key Information

Improving the sustainability of our food offering across our campuses

1 October 2018 saw the launch of the University’s first ever sustainable food strategy, which provided a road map for increasing the sustainability of our food offering from field to fork and beyond. The strategy was refreshed in 2022 to better reflect the key activities needed within the context of increasingly complex supply chains. The action plan supports the University’s overall response to the climate crisis and meets ever increasing demand for more sustainable options across our campuses’ menus.  

The action plan is delivered by each of the catering outlets and overseen by the Sustainable Food Steering Group which has student and staff representatives on it alongside, catering managers from each of the outlets, the Student Union and the Sustainability Team.

FutureProof Project

Sustainability Champion Dan, Food and Beverage Manager has been leading the efforts at the Gulbenkian to improve the sustainability of their catering outlet.
The exterior of the Gulbenkian
​ Jim Higham.

Gulbenkian: Project Zero

The progress so far

Our top 5 priorities for 2022

Find out more in our 2022 Sustainable Food Action Plan

  • apple

    Reducing our meat consumption

    Tackling our scope 3 carbon emissions by reducing ruminant meat on our menu and improving plant based options.

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    Our Supply Chain

    Ensuring that robust sustainability criteria is integral in our contracts with all suppliers and that we continue to seek our local suppliers to work with.

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    Reducing Food Waste

    Seek reductions in food waste across our operations and support students in accommodation to do the same.

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    Showcasing Good Practice

    Use the Gulbenkian Café as an exemplar of good practice and a testing bed for trialling new ideas.

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    Improving our Communication

      Promote key sustainability messages about our food across platforms and front of house in our outlets.  

Sustainable Fish

All wild caught fish served in our dishes across our campuses are Marine Stewardship Council Certified meaning we know that it was fished responsibly and where it came from.

Cooked white fish on top of Mediterranean vegetables
​ "Fish Dish: Mediterranean Cod" by AVID Vines. CC BY 2.0.

Marine Stewardship Council Certification

Find out more about what the MSC mark means for you the consumer.

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