Our Ethics
ARAMARK is committed to being a responsible company and has put significant focus across the four areas of corporate responsibility, Marketplace, Workplace, Environment and Community, as defined by Business in the Community.
ARAMARK's Corporate Responsibility activity has been recognised with Cost Sector Caterer magazine's 2008 Corporate Responsibility Award.
Corporate Governance is critical to driving actions through the company. At ARAMARK, our Management Committee is fully committed to driving necessary change through its decision-making process. Our Corporate Responsibility Director, Val Carter, has been appointed to ensure this happens and to deliver ARAMARK's targets and plans.
Marketplace
We are a lead sponsor of British Food Fortnight and work closely with our suppliers to increase use of local, regional, assured, Fairtrade and organic produce.
Consumers now demand to know more about the food they are eating and drinking. ARAMARK is committed to increasing the range of goods available in all categories and driving consumption through promotions and awareness campaigns. We follow Defra's PSFPI (Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative) guidelines for this. ARAMARK also holds a Suppliers' Environmental Forum, which meets on a quarterly basis
Workplace
ARAMARK has a responsibility to its employees, customers and clients. Healthy eating and the challenges of obesity cannot be ignored. ARAMARK is building on its Intelligent Dining programme to ensure that the company gives everyone balanced and practical information and options to make the choice to eat healthily an easy one.
We think that it is critical for our employees to understand what CR really means and to gain their commitment, both in their operations and at home. We encourage them to participate in responsible activities, whether that's joining in with community projects through the company or switching to energy efficient light bulbs at home. We also believe it is very important to understand our clients' CR activities and dovetail in with those to assist them achieve their targets.
Environment
The environment has the highest awareness of all areas in today's fast-changing world. ARAMARK has set itself a target of reducing the carbon footprint of all owned / controlled properties by the end of 2009.
We are reviewing our own fleet, as well of that of our suppliers, to look at ways of reducing food miles through smarter distribution methods and the use of more locally-sourced products. Through the Suppliers' Environmental Forum, we are identifying ways to reduce the amount of packaging we use.
Recycling of waste is a critical area and ARAMARK will recommend how to maximise this in line with the client's waste stream and recommend additional innovative methods that can be introduced.
Community
Community activity is led by our Star Teams, which work in conjunction with Business in the Community (BITC), a charitable organisation with over 25 years' experience in community-based activity. Star Teams provide the framework for ARAMARK employees to make a real difference to their local area with its goal to make a positive impact on the communities in which the organisation operates.
ARAMARK also encourages teams and individuals to take part in their own choice of activities and these are publicised both internally, in our employee magazine, The Mark, and externally, often through the local press.
ARAMARK also supports nominated charities across the company. At present these are Outward Bound Trust, Hospitality Action and via the Pennies from Heaven Scheme.
