news analysis
Is single-use packaging seriously under threat?
New regulation, a plastic recycling crisis and retailers who firmly back reusable packaging could ignite the circular economy in Europe. David Burrows reports. Are we… Read More
THE FRIDAY DIGEST: How might foodservice report healthy sales?
News that the UK Government plans to introduce a healthy food standard generated plenty of column inches when it broke over the summer. Announced in… Read More
register for footprint news
Out of home news
Hospitality demands reversal of “socially regressive” budget
A coalition of hospitality sector businesses has urged the Chancellor to reduce the tax burden on the sector in this month’s budget or risk fuelling… Read More
Starmer doubles down on school food focus
The Prime Minister has highlighted the role of good school food in tackling diet-related ill health after data showed a significant proportion of school-age children… Read More
Healthy baskets come at a premium
Governments are being urged to align food taxes with public health goals after new research found supermarket shoppers are forced to pay a premium for… Read More
drinks news
Alcohol consumption on the slide … everywhere
Alcohol consumption is decreasing and “the movement is here to stay”, according to an analysis published by DigitalFoodLab. “The sector is so widely affected that… Read More
The 2025 Drinks Sustainability Awards Winners Announced
Leaders from across the drinks industry were at the OXO2 on London’s South Bank last night as businesses came together to recognise the work the… Read More
grocery news
France leads the way in reusable packaging for grocery
Reusable packaging has reached “industrial scale” in France, as more than 370 products across 345 supermarkets join the Loop reuse platform. The Loop model has… Read More
Farmfoods’ poultry promise proves flaky
Some 140,000 hens will remain caged following Farmfoods’ decision to drop a commitment to go cage-free. The budget food chain is the only UK supermarket… Read More
CMA throws weight behind supply chain watchdog
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has been effective in ensuring fair trading relationships between big supermarkets and their suppliers, according to the body that recommended… Read More
latest footprint intelligence reports
Launch Preview: Growing Regenerative Agriculture: How businesses can help deliver impact at scale, in association with Nestlé Professional.
Please join us for the launch Preview of this new report Growing Regenerative Agriculture: How businesses can help deliver impact at scale, produced by Footprint Intelligence in… Read More
The 2025 Footprint Sustainability Index, in association with Nestlé Professional, is available as a free download.
Drawing on insights generously shared by hospitality and foodservice leaders, consumer polling and wider industry analysis, this year’s Index also explores how AI may be poised to… Read More
Footprint Intelligence white paper: Deliver commercial advantage through sustainable water management in association with Waterscan
Reliable access to water is a critical risk factor for hospitality and foodservice businesses. As global temperatures continue to rise and extreme weather events become more commonplace, access… Read More
Data, decarbonisation and diet: how foodservice can benefit as a net-zero leader, in association with Foodsteps
This is billed as the decisive decade for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C we must… Read More
Water stewardship and regeneration in the drinks industry; where next? in association with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
From soft drinks to beer, water is a vital resource that powers the drinks industry. Water is already high up the sustainability agenda for businesses… Read More
Empowering choice: how and why to market higher welfare in hospitality and foodservice, in association with RSPCA Assured
Ask most hospitality and foodservice insiders what marketing they’re doing around animal welfare and most likely you’ll have a tumbleweed moment. The reality is too… Read More
award winners’ case studies
Making Reuse Simple – Marston’s Leads the Way in Glass Reuse for Hospitality
The hospitality industry has long faced the challenge of packaging waste, with glass bottles representing a significant proportion of the sector’s environmental footprint. While recycling… Read More
Downton Distillery: Redefining Spirits Through Craft, Conservation and Circularity
Downton Distillery, set on the West Wiltshire Downs, is proving that premium spirits and sustainability can be inseparable. Founded by former Scots Guards officer Hugh… Read More
All Bar One recognised as a sustainability leader in hospitality
All Bar One, part of Mitchells & Butlers, is proud to be recognised as a leader in sustainable hospitality. With a mission to create a… Read More
latest footprint podcasts
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 6: Can Artificial Intelligence turbocharge sustainability?
In our latest Sustainability Bites podcast, in association with Nestlé Professional, we take a closer look at AI and the possible profound impact on sustainability… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 5: Scope 3: Measuring Industry Progress in association with Nestlé Professional
In this episode of Sustainability Bites we do a deep-dive into industry progress on all matters Scope 3. Scope 3 remains one of the sector’s… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 4: The future of talent in hospitality & foodservice
As part of Nestlé Professional’s ‘Choose Hospitality Pledge’ we’re delighted to release the latest in the series of Sustainability Bites podcasts – Hospitality & Foodservice:… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 3 – Packaging: materials and substitution
Sustainability Bites, in association with Nestlé Professional, is a podcast which unpicks the key sustainability issues affecting the hospitality and foodservice sector. In this episode… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional – Episode 2: Packaging & Waste
Sustainability Bites, in association with Nestle Professional, is a podcast which unpicks the key sustainability issues affecting the hospitality and foodservice sector. This episode focuses… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional – Episode 1: Cost of Living Crisis: Foodservice & Hospitality
Sustainability Bites is a series of podcasts featuring panel discussions between industry experts that focus on some of the key sustainability issues and topics that… Read More
comment, opinion & analysis
COMMENT: ‘Heremade’ food helps recharge and reconnect
A break in central Scotland helps me reconnect with natural food and (thanks to a bacon sandwich) chew over the writing that keeps me hungry.… Read More
COMMENT: Going Beyond Meat and pushing beans
Beyond Meat is dropping ‘Meat’ from its name and focusing on shorter ingredients lists and nutrient-dense products. Gill Wilson weighs up the pros and cons.… Read More
Report, react and reduce
Data can help foodservice companies keep pace with reporting rules and deliver their 2030 reduction targets. By David Burrows. More than a decade-and-a-half has passed… Read More
Educating Britain one label at a time
Eco-labels are bringing transparency to the climate and nature impact of our meal choices but more data is needed to understand the effect they have… Read More
Consistency as standard – the drive to define scope 3
Moves aimed at harmonising how food and drink businesses account for value chain emissions have the potential to unlock a range of benefits. By Nick… Read More
Don’t buy into deforestation law delays
The European Commission wants to delay EUDR due to IT issues, but food businesses can’t afford to switch off from ensuring they have sustainable supply… Read More
Deforestation, dodgy green claims and delays
New EU laws relating to green claims and deforestation do not mean food businesses can relax. The European Commission has proposed delaying its anti-deforestation law… Read More
Don’t fall foul of new green claims regime
April 7th 2025 was a landmark date for food businesses making environmental claims. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) came into force,… Read More
waste
Bitter battle ahead in final plastics treaty talks
Negotiations on a global deal to end plastic pollution continue to sidestep the production of plastics. David Burrows reports. “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill… Read More
Briefing: Wrap’s ‘next generation’ packaging pact
Can a new industry agreement to tackle plastic prevent another five years of poor performance? By David Burrows. Wrap’s future plastic pact plans. The environmental charity… Read More
health & vitality
Is health plan’s real impact hidden in the small print?
While the focus of attention has been on mandatory reporting, a proposed change to how the healthiness of food and drink products is assessed could… Read More
Health & Nutrition Elite Honoured
Health and nutrition returned to the limelight today as the awards were presented for the 2023 Health & Vitality Honours. After a pandemic induced hiatus… Read More
The 2023 Health & Vitality Roll of Honours is announced
The initiatives demonstrated in 2023’s Health & Vitality Honours programme have highlighted that health, nutrition and wellbeing in the industry is back on the agenda… Read More
political print
Reynolds and Eagle land in Defra
A Cabinet reshuffle has resulted in changes to the ministerial team at a crucial time for food, nature and environment regulations. By David Burrows. Emma… Read More
POLITICAL PRINT: Making the most of a Brexit breakthrough
A willingness to confront difficult policy issues head-on is one way Labour can distinguish itself from an ascendant Reform, says Nick Hughes. As MPs returned… Read More
footprint event reports
How data can support the drive to decarbonise
At a Footprint Forum in association with Foodsteps held earlier this summer, foodservice experts shared practical tips on how environmental data can be harnessed to… Read More
Don’t fall foul of new green claims regime
April 7th 2025 was a landmark date for food businesses making environmental claims. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) came into force,… Read More
Tread carefully along the thin green line
New rules relating to making green claims are confusing, which is bad news for food companies and good news for lawyers. David Burrows reports. “Green,… Read More
Footprint video
Events photo galleries
Photo gallery: Drinks Sustainability Awards 2025
The Drinks Sustainability Awards 2025 is the barometer for sustainability and responsible business practice for the drinks industry in the On Trade. The 2025 Winners… Read More
Photo gallery: Footprint Awards 2025
The Footprint Awards dinner this year was once again held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on Thursday 22nd May. Read More
Gallery: The 2024 waste2zero Awards
The 2024 waste2zero awards that recognise excellence in Waste Management and Prevention in the out of home food and drink sector, were presented at an exclusive… Read More
interviews with foodservice and grocery sector professionals
Learning from leaders on food system transformation
Mike Barry and Ali Morpeth encouraged 10 leading food thinkers to open up about the barriers to healthy sustainable diets and what can be done… Read More
INTERVIEW: A step in a healthier direction
ATNi (Access to Nutrition initiative) has long called for transparency of healthy sales as part of its work with the food industry, investors and policy… Read More
Interview: Plant push needs reality check
Alternative proteins have potential, but they aren’t a free pass to sustainable consumption, according to Aramark head of ESG, Gina Camfield. By David Burrows. “When… Read More
innovation marketplace
Elior and FSG Returnables team up to ditch disposables at NPL
Elior UK, is proud to announce a new partnership with FSG Returnables (FSG) to introduce reusable takeaway food containers, at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).… Read More
Through Better Tomorrow 2028, Sodexo Makes Sustainability a Powerful Driver of Operational Performance
Sodexo announces the launch of Better Tomorrow 2028 – its new roadmap aiming to accelerate the company’s sustainable journey, building on the progress, achievements and… Read More
Sodexo and EAT announce partnership promoting sustainable eating habits
Sodexo and EAT are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance healthier and more sustainable eating habits. As EAT’s exclusive partner from the food… Read More