Aramark installs water pumps in Africa

By selling and promoting 'One Water' bottled water, Aramark has built up enough credits to make a real difference in an African community. Ten pence from each sale goes towards the campaign and 70,000 bottles need to be sold in return for a 'PlayPump'. The company installed its first ever water pump in November 2007 with four more pumps and an all new fruit and vegetable garden going live in February. The food garden has been developed within the grounds of the school to supply local people with fresh fruit and vegetables and help facilitate sustainability in the area. Val Carter, corporate responsibility director at Aramark, explained: "We have come on leaps and bounds in our extensive corporate responsibility programme in the last couple of years. The Aramark CR strategy is a deeper approach which goes much further than just scratching the surface. This programme with 'One Water' has been a hugely rewarding experience for everyone involved, enabling a sustainable environment for a community with limited resources and access to clean water and hygienic facilities. "Every part of the company has pulled together and various areas of the business have helped us to achieve the four pumps including business dining, education and business services." Further plans include creating food gardens within a number of other local sites at a later date and making additions to the water pumps whenever possible.