Catering wins sustainability award

The University has become the first in Scotland to be recognised by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), gaining a two-star ‘excellent’ accreditation.

Catering staff completed the SRA’s rigorous and wide-ranging assessment that covers sourcing, society and environment, enabling Edinburgh to become one of 15 accredited universities across the UK.

This is a great achievement for the whole catering team and, along with our other sustainability awards, further reinforces our ongoing commitment to the University's wider strategic sustainably commitment.

High scores

The University scored particularly well on society and environment, reflecting initiatives such as a programme that teaches school children about sustainability and cooking skills, the use of energy efficient equipment and a strong waste reduction policy.

In the University’s many catering outlets, including halls of residence, all eggs are free range, all seafood is from British waters and from sustainable sources, and many products are fair trade, including all chocolate, tea and coffee.

Mark Linehan, Managing Director of SRA, said the University’s excellent rating showed “an understanding of its responsibility to serve its thousands of customers with a dining experience that isn’t costing the earth”.