Keele University

Keele University’s food and drink: Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do across campus

As part of Keele’s ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2030, in summer 2022 the catering team created, developed, and implemented a new concept with locally sourced, low carbon suppliers and we launched our ‘Green Delegate Package’ under the campus wide initiative ‘Root to Branch’.

All our conference lunches and banqueting can be carbon calculated to support the client to achieve their carbon reduction objectives and net-zero goals. The menus have been devised to minimise allergens, dramatically reduce carbon, reduce waste, and are vegan and vegetarian friendly. All suppliers are as local as possible and are rigorously vetted through our sustainable procurement process.

This concept has grown to develop the retail catering across the campus and is inspiring a new generation in healthy eating, aligning beautifully with Keele’s sustainability, inclusivity, diversity, and well-being ethos.

What the Judges Thought

The project has great potential for reaching out to all delegates. Judges liked the collaboration with students, the locally sourced and low carbon suppliers, all menus for conferences and events can be carbon calculated. There are also some nice offshoots which are not the main focus of the application but suggest that Keele catering is committed to promoting sustainable consumption practices.

What it Means to Win

“I'm absolutely delighted that Keele University has won a Campus Health, Food & Drink category at the Green Gown Awards. Our award is a tremendous collective achievement, delivered through huge effort, great teamwork, and innovation in embedding sustainability across food and drink by our staff and students.”

Professor Trevor McMillan OBE, Vice-Chancellor

Top 3 Learnings

1. We have developed a recognised initiative with our Green Delegate Package.
2. Our Green Delegate Package fills a gap in the market.
3. By calculating the carbon footprint of our conference lunches, we’re now working to expand this across our entire catering offer.