Sustainable Food
Working with our catering providers Chartwell's to ensure access to sustainable and affordable food across campus, and managing our impacts on the environment with sustainable choices.
Sustainable Food
Sustainable Food Action Plan
Our new sustainable food standard and action plan was developed in collaboration the Kent Sustainability Forum which brought together staff, students and Chartwell's staff to discuss food across our campuses and what sustainable actions could be taken to reduce the impact of food at Kent.
Our action plan commits us to achieve the Food Made Good Standards certification across all University-managed catering operations by the end of the next academic year (2027/28). This standard from the Sustainable Restaurant Association is based on a framework which Evaluates impact across the three pillars of sourcing, Society and the Environment.
The action plan sets out our key strategic priority areas
Strategic Priority 1 – Local & Ethical Procurement
We will strengthen responsible, transparent and local sourcing, supporting ethical suppliers, campus-grown produce and higher-welfare food standards.
Strategic Priority 2 – Healthy & Affordable Food
We will provide nutritious, accessible and affordable meals while improving nutritional information and reducing excess salt, sugar, saturated fat and ultra-processed foods.
Strategic Priority 3 – Plant-Forward & Lower Carbon Menus
We will expand appealing, affordable plant-forward and lower-carbon choices while reducing reliance on high-impact foods such as beef.
Strategic Priority 4 – Food Waste & Circular Economy
We will reduce food waste and single-use packaging, maximise reuse and recycling, and redistribute surplus food wherever possible.
Strategic Priority 5 – Engagement & Food Culture
We will work with students, staff and communities to build a positive food culture through education, consultation, events and shared sustainable dining experiences.
Reusable Cups
Our returnable cup scheme gives customers a convenient alternative to single-use cups.
Once you’ve joined, you’ll receive a returnable cup and can choose to keep it, exchange it for a freshly cleaned cup when buying your next drink, or return it and receive a token to use next time.
The scheme removes the need to carry an empty cup around campus or remember to take it home for washing. Every returned cup will be professionally cleaned and prepared for reuse before returning to circulation.
For a limited time, you can join the returnable cup scheme for a special launch price of £3.50. This price will be available from the scheme’s launch on 9 November until 30 November. From 1 December, the standard joining price will be £4.15.
Free Water refills
Plastic bottles contribute significantly to environmental pollution. By reusing a water bottle, you reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or the ocean.
Where can I refill my water bottle?
- Mungo’s (Eliot College) – Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.
- K-Bar (Keynes College) - Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.
- Sibson Café (Sibson Building) – Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.
- Hut 8 (Turing College) - Designated water station in service hatch.
- Rutherford Dining Hall (Rutherford College) – Designated water station in open fridge in the dining area.
- Keynes Café & Kitchen (Keynes College) – Designated water tap in dining area.
- Gulbenkian Café - Water tap is behind the counter. Please ask a member of staff to fill your water bottle for you.
If you would like to add a water station to this list, please email: kentunifood@compass-group.co.uk
Food projects
Kent Community Oasis Garden
Kent Community Oasis Garden
A partnership project with East Kent Mind supporting mental health and wellbeing through food growing, nature-based activities and biodiversity projects.
Right to Food
Right to Food
We commit ourselves to promote food justice, tackle food poverty and transform our food system so that it operates to advance human health and an environmentally sustainable society.
Carbon Labelling
Carbon Labelling
Our menus now include carbon labelling to help customers make informed choices about he footprint of their choices.
FAQs
There are plant-based options available at all of our catering outlets. As part of our sustainable food action plan we are working towards expanding appealing, affordable plant-forward and lower carbon choices.
Plant-based options are always available as part of the savour range ensuring a low cost nutritious plant-based meal every day.
Food waste is segregated from other waste and picked up by by our waste contractor Biffa. Food waste is then broken down through anaerobic digestion into biogas and nutrient-rich fertiliser. Students can help this process by making sure they put food waste into the correct bin in their kitchens.
We are constantly reviewing the amount of single-use plastics we use as part of our catering offering. We offer discounts when you use your own coffee cup, offer a returnable cup scheme and we are increasing the amount of access to water so you can fill up your own bottles around campus.