Sustainable Food

Sustainable Food

A group of staff and students sit and stand around a decorated kitchen table featuring a spread of various foods

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Cardiff Met considers sustainability across all aspects of its catering services, from ethical sourcing to waste production.

A selection of salads on display in bowls, with accompanying information signs

Responsible Sourcing

The catering team prioritises fair, sustainable and responsible sourcing, purchasing from local suppliers where possible. Currently, 65% of our suppliers are based within a 40-mile range of the University.

Two young adults holding coffees smile for a photograph

Rainforest Alliance Coffee

Coffee sold at the Atrium, The Bench, and The Gallery catering outlets is sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, meaning that is is produced in line with rigorous sustainability standards and the workers and their farms are supported and protected.

Planted-Based Alternatives

Low carbon, plant-based alternatives are available in all catering outlets, with hot food facilities providing plant-based meals daily alongside a variety of vegan deli items, snacks, and drinks.

Sustainable Restaurant Association

Since 2017, Cardiff Met has been awarded three star Food Made Good ratings by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). The assessment is comprised of three pillars of sustainability: sourcing, society and environment, for which Cardiff Met most recently achieved a combined score of 88%.

Read the 2024 SRA Food Made Good Report below.

SRA Report 2024

Hospitality Services Awards Publications Environmental Management System

A spread of fresh food on display in front of a drinks bar

Cardiff Met's Sustainable Food Policies

View our Sustainable Food Policy and Sustainable Seafood Policy.

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To reduce the use of single-waste items on campus, Cardiff Met offers the following:

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Reusable Chilly bottles and mugs for sale on campus, along with water refill points across our sites

A reusable silver metallic bottle held up

Vegware (biodegradable) salad containers

A plastic food container containing a colourful bean salad

Resuable food containers for sale

Water refill points, placed throughout all sites

Water filling station on Cardiff Met campus

Fairtrade Catering & Hospitality

Cardiff Met has been supporting and selling Fairtrade products since 2003, and have been a certified Fairtrade campus since 2007, with our Fairtrade sales growing year on year. Cardiff Met prioritises Fairtrade sourcing across catering outlets and hospitality services. Fairtrade tea and coffee are served as standard in university hospitality, including conferences and events hosted on campus. Additionally, outlets maintain stock and Fairtrade products across key categories, including tea, coffee, juice, sugar, chocolate, fruit, and more.