🌱 Can a Menu Help Fight Climate Change? Sodexo Thinks So.
In this Member Podcast episode, Heidi is in conversation with Laurent, Head of Food Solutions & Sustainability at Sodexo Hong Kong, about a bold idea that could change the way we think about lunch: carbon-labelled menus.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast interview here
In conversation with Heidi and Laurent
Member Spotlight: Meet Laurent Houdremont, Head of Food Solutions & Sustainability at Sodexo Hong Kong and a man on a mission to make your lunch more climate-friendly.
In a city obsessed with efficiency and excellence, Sodexo Hong Kong is proving that sustainability can be served daily starting with a bold idea: carbon-labelled menus.
Transparency, data, and carbon labels that empower students to choose low-impact meals.
🍽️ What’s on the Menu? Data, Transparency… and Climate Action
You’ve seen calorie counts. Maybe allergen warnings. But what if your lunch came with a carbon label?
That’s what Sodexo is rolling out in Hong Kong — a simple colour-coded label that tells you how much carbon was emitted to make your meal.
Think traffic lights: green for low-carbon dishes, red for high. Easy. Eye-opening. Effective.
🌍 Why Hong Kong? Why Now?
According to Laurent, Hong Kong’s compact scale and international mindset make it the perfect testing ground.
Sustainability is no longer niche — it’s an expectation. Sodexo Hong Kong, a proud Future Green member, is stepping up by aligning its operations with global carbon reduction targets, aiming to slash emissions from its food services by the end of 2025 contributing to reach it’s long-term Net Zero goals by 2040.
This isn’t just a corporate checkbox — it’s cultural shift in kitchens, cafeterias, and communities.
Carbon-labelled menus make climate impact visible — one meal at a time.
🏫 The Pilot That Proved the Point
One standout trial? An all-plant-based Biodiversity Summit menu at Chinese International School, co-created with chefs, students, and Future Green.
The result? Clear labels, real data, and plant-based dishes that were both climate-smart and crowd-pleasing.
Students at Chinese International School celebrate sustainability initiatives during their Biodiversity Summit.
📊 Measuring What Matters
Right now, Sodexo Hong Kong is in the early phase: roll out, educate, and gather feedback.
They’re not just measuring sales, they’re tracking shifts in behaviour. Are customers picking more green-labelled dishes? Are chefs experimenting with Future 50 Foods and local ingredients?
And yes, Hong Kong even has local milk and honey now. Their sourcing team is pushing boundaries while keeping taste and nutrition top of mind.
Sodexo’s sustainable initiatives of locally sourced honey, made in Yuen Long!
🔧 Localising a Global Vision
One of Sodexo’s biggest strengths? It’s global. One of its biggest challenges? Also being global.
What works in Paris might not work in Causeway Bay. That’s why Laurent’s team is localising Sodexo’s global sustainability strategy, adapting it to the tastes, ingredients, and dining habits of Hong Kong.
From short supply chains to sustainable seafood, cage-free eggs to energy-efficient kitchens — this is holistic food system thinking, not greenwashing.
🚀 What’s Next?
Carbon labelling is just the start. Sodexo Hong Kong is continuing to:
- Expand use of Future 50 Foods
- Partner with local farms and social enterprises
- Reduce packaging waste and kitchen energy use
- Engage staff and students through sustainability storytelling
Future 50 Foods: 50 nutritious, low-impact ingredients to nourish people and the planet.
💡 Final Thought from Laurent
Throwback to our April Members Monthly Meetup — a roundtable event hosted at the DFI office with Laurent and other members of our community.
🎧 Catch the full podcast with Laurent as we dish on carbon labels and sustainable dining
Ever wondered how to Carbon Label your menu? 👀 Watch this quick video.
📣 Want to learn more about Sodexo Hong Kong?
Read more here
🍃 Interested in Menu Carbon Labelling for your business?
Explore Future Green’s Menu Carbon Labelling solutions
🤝 Want to become a Future Green member like Sodexo?
Join our community of passionate food and sustainability professionals. As a member, you’ll gain access to exclusive resources, practical tools, and inspiring events that support your journey toward positive food sustainability change.
👉 Get your membership and start making an impact!
📅 Book a discovery call to learn how Future Green membership can support you.
