8th Aug 2008 - 00:00
Abstract
apetito, a supplier of meals to the healthcare, education and community meals sectors, has won the 'Corporate Social Responsibility Award' for the Wales & West Country region of the National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, for its approach to sustainability.
The award acknowledges the success of the company's commitment to sustainability built around three core principles which are to produce great food that is always safe, nutritious and inspiring, to minimise the total impact of its operations on the environment and to have a positive effect upon the economic and social wellbeing of the communities in which it trades. For example, the company's meals are entirely HVO and MSG free and some 120,000 meals a year microbiologically tested under apetito's 'positive release' system. The company has been accredited with the ISO14001 environmental management certification and as part of its commitment; none of its ready meals are sold with cardboard sleeves, giving an estimated saving of 3,000 tonnes of cardboard in 2007, furthermore recycling was up 20 percent from 2006 to 2007. The company is also looking to reduce water use by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2007, which has also been adopted as an industry wide target. Understanding that good sustainable practice involves far more than good environmental policies, apetito is committed to supporting the community. The apetito 'Staff Foundation' initiative champions the charitable and voluntary work carried out by its staff and their children, providing £50,000 in community donations, since the scheme began in 2006. The company has also partnered 'FareShare' in Bristol, a charity which distributes surplus and short-dated food to the needy and homeless to alleviate food poverty. Paul Freeston (pictured), chief executive, apetito comments: "We all have a responsibility to take action and make a difference in the way business is carried out by incorporating sustainability as a core corporate objective. We now have in place a programme of real and meaningful positive action right across the sustainability agenda. We are tremendously proud of winning the award as it is a testament to all the hard work and commitment from everyone at team apetito." apetito won a second award, 'The IMechE Business Innovation of the Year', in recognition of the development of its 'New Generation Chefmobil' and the company is automatically through to the Finals of The National Business Awards competition on the 18th November.