Sodexo awarded ISO 14001 for its system at Stoke Mandeville Hospital

The Sodexo team worked closely with the hospital to develop an environmental management system that allows them to monitor and manage the impact Sodexo has on the environment - and succeeded in their goal in just four months. Stoke Mandeville Hospital is a large acute general hospital which is also home to the recognised national spinal injuries centre. Sodexo provides services at the hospital including patient and non-patient catering, helpdesk, reception, porter services, security, domestic and waste handling. The ISO 14001 accreditation is a quality management system designed to help organisations be more environmentally friendly by demonstrating how to measure consumption and reduce waste. To achieve the standard, companies need to demonstrate compliance to the standard in areas including: monitoring the impact of operations; setting targets and objectives, and demonstrating continuous improvement. Sodexo's commitment to the environment is part of its 'Better Tomorrow Plan', which aims to consolidate the company's sustainability performance and provide a framework to measure the impact of its actions. The plan includes a commitment to implement practices and policies that minimise its environmental impacts. To meet the standards of the accreditation, the on-site team developed an environmental policy of its position and priorities regarding its environmental practises at the hospital. The next stages involved the development of an environmental management review group of key Sodexo employees who looked at Sodexo's impact on the environment and set goals. Specific staff training was also part of the process. Assessment of Sodexo involved monitoring Sodexo's practices, including the materials and energy used and wastage. Simon Scrivens, managing director, Sodexo Healthcare, said: "This achievement is a clear demonstration of Sodexo's commitment to the environment and to improving the standards of its operations at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. "The next year will bring challenges and will require continued effort to maintain and build on the standards. "I am very impressed with the dedication of the staff at the hospital, it has been a real team effort and everyone deserves credit for the successful implementation of the standard."