Sodexo Canada has released its inaugural Sustainable Food Barometer, offering insights into Canadians’ sustainable food habits and intentions. This research, conducted in collaboration with Leger in December 2023, surveyed over 1,500 Canadians, providing a comparison to Sodexo’s International Sustainable Food Barometer conducted by Harris Interactive.
The Barometer revealed that a significant majority of Canadians (87%) recognize the urgency of adopting sustainable behaviors, a sentiment echoed across all income categories and strongest among the 18-24 age group. Most Canadians report already adopting sustainable food habits such as reducing food waste, eating seasonal produce, and buying local produce. These trends align with global patterns.
Additionally, many Canadians express a willingness to adopt further sustainable practices, such as reducing processed food consumption, avoiding plastic packaging, and preferring sustainably produced products.
As the first global food services company committed to limiting global temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Sodexo aims to reduce emissions by 34% by 2025 across its value chain. This includes sustainable sourcing, offering plant-based recipes, optimizing energy use, and expanding the WasteWatch program to reduce food waste.
“Sodexo Canada is committed to reducing our environmental impact through offering more sustainable food choices, and sourcing, preparing and serving them in more enjoyable and sustainable ways,” said CEO Johanne Bélanger. “We encourage Canadians to join us for the health benefits and cost savings, as well as the ultimate benefit of limiting climate change.”
Sodexo Canada: Gap between intentions and actions
Despite the strong inclination towards sustainable eating, Canadians face challenges in actualizing these intentions, primarily due to financial considerations and ingrained eating habits. The survey indicates that price, taste, and nutritional value are the top factors influencing grocery shopping, with environmental impact being the least important.
Moreover, a significant portion of Canadians are reluctant to give up meat, fish, and dairy, showcasing a preference for moderation over major dietary transformations.
Health benefits and financial savings emerge as the primary motivations for Canadians to eat more sustainably, followed by contributing to Canada’s food autonomy and setting an example for future generations. However, legislative changes or imposed regulations appear to be less persuasive in driving sustainable food choices.
“Sodexo Canada is continuously working to improve how and what we serve Canadians, conscious of our role as leaders and our environmental impact,” said CSR senior sustainability manager Davide Del Brocco. “The Sustainable Food Barometer helps us better understand how consumers think about making sustainable choices and how we can continue to support progressive change, making tasty, healthy meals that reduce our impact on the planet across the entire food ecosystem.”
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