Partners in Sustainability: Aramark

Many of the sustainability challenges that we prioritize at Samsung – whether it be realizing a circular economy or optimizing energy efficiency – are enhanced through partnerships and collaborative initiatives with credible, knowledgeable, and innovative brands, environmental organizations, and industry groups. Together with these like-minded eco-friendly allies, we are putting our scale, global presence, and pioneering spirit to work on building a more sustainable and equitable future. As part of our “Partners in Sustainability” series, Samsung’s esteemed partners are sharing their views on how tackling environmental challenges requires unparalleled cooperation.

1. ‘Be Well. Do Well.’ is Aramark’s sustainability mantra. What does sustainability mean to the Company – and how is it reflected in the facilities you operate, the food you serve, and beyond?

Be Well. Do Well.^® is Aramark’s sustainability plan. It sums up our goal to make a positive impact on people and planet. Simply stated, we are working to reduce inequity, support and grow our communities, and protect our planet.

Be Well. Do Well. starts with people. Our first goal is to enable equity and well-being for millions of people by 2025, including our employees, consumers, communities, and people in our supply chain. Our second, interconnected goal, is focused on the planet and our climate impact: to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. 15% from our 2019 baseline by 2025 by sourcing responsibly, operating efficiently, minimizing waste, and reducing packaging. At a practical level, this is reflected in ongoing client-level partnerships that are substantially improving energy efficiency, expanding access to lower-carbon, climate-friendly, meals, and reducing food waste.

2. How is the Company achieving its sustainability goals?

When it comes to reducing our environmental impact, we’re focusing on addressing climate change. Reducing GHG emissions is our top priority and something we can impact in all our businesses through the foods we serve to the vehicles we drive.

Interior of Samsung Electronics America in Plano, Texas

Aramark has committed to set enterprise-wide, science-based targets to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard. Science-based targets tell companies how much and how quickly they need to reduce their GHG emissions based on the latest climate science. While we develop our science-based targets, we will continue to work toward the climate goal we set as a core pillar of Be Well. Do Well. — to reduce our Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions 15% from our 2019 baseline by the end of 2025 in the U.S.

Our climate commitments build on work we’ve already started to reduce emissions by sourcing responsibly, operating efficiently, minimizing food waste, and reducing packaging. We’re also increasing our climate-healthy, plant-forward menu options through our Healthy for Life® initiative and Cool Food Meals pilot project in collaboration with WRI.  And we’re proud to highlight progress toward our No-Deforestation Policy.

Exterior of Samsung Electronics America in Plano, Texas.

3. How are you realizing those goals in partnership with Samsung?

Energy Efficiency: Aramark has been supporting Samsung Electronics America’s energy management efforts since May of 2019. Samsung’s energy consumption has been reduced by a cumulative 9.5% since the program’s inception. Aramark’s energy engineers work with the facilities team and building operators to match equipment operation to employee needs, optimize the equipment operation to minimize energy use, and make selective capital improvements that reduce energy consumption. In addition to the energy savings, Aramark has also recently assisted Samsung in obtaining ENERGY STAR Tenant Space certification for seven office locations and whole building certification for two facilities. In fact, Samsung was recently awarded two 2022 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year awards, one of which for Energy Management, for its work with Aramark related to achievements in operational energy efficiency.

Samsung Electronics America cafeteria in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

Food Service Sustainability: Aramark provides services to Samsung at 43 locations in 19 states, serving more than 4,000 Samsung employees. At Café 85, we’ve been awarded a 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant by the Green Restaurant Association for our sustainability efforts. When it comes to managing waste, we minimize waste-to-landfill by using sustainable materials, recycling, and run a Styrofoam-free facility. We also partner with Table to Table, a New Jersey-based food donation company that collects unused food weekly. Finally, we are reducing the carbon footprint of the food we serve by offering climate-friendly menus, including ensuring that at least 20% of our main dishes are vegan or vegetarian.

Samsung Electronics America cafeteria in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

4. What are some other ways that you’re helping your clients operate efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint?

Aramark is working together with our clients to reduce our collective carbon footprint and minimize environmental impact by sourcing responsibly, operating efficiently, minimizing waste, and reducing packaging. Examples include:

• • Developing and offering plant-forward menus that promote human & planetary health: Our plant-forward menu options meet consumer tastes and reduce GHG emissions, minimize demand for water and land resources, and preserve natural habitats.
  • Working to reduce food waste across our operations with the dual goals of conserving resources & minimizing our environmental footprint: We strive to eliminate waste before it’s generated through a holistic food management process that includes menu planning, customer and portion forecasting, perfect purchasing, consumer engagement tools, waste tracking, post-analysis, and more.
  • Reducing single-use plastics: In 2018, we made a commitment to significantly reduce single-use disposable plastics, such as plastic straws, stirrers, bags, cutlery, and other packaging across global food operations by 2022. Our goal is to eliminate waste before it is generated and creates problems for the environment. We also work with clients to implement recycling programs to further divert waste from landfills globally.
  • Improving energy efficiency: We implement energy projects that use savings to fund the replacement of aged inefficient energy consuming equipment with new high efficiency equipment. We also implement energy management programs that maximize the efficiency of existing equipment with selective investments in high return efficiency upgrades. We also integrate an energy efficiency review into the site assessment process for all new office locations.
  • Providing strategy & engagement support: We support clients with educational and outreach programs that provide employees with the information need to make smart energy decisions both at work and at home. We also provide data management services including carbon footprint calculations and climate actions plans to guide an organization on its journey to carbon neutrality

Interior of Samsung Electronics America in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

5. Why do you think collaboration is one of the keys to unlocking solutions to the climate crisis?

When it comes to climate action, collaboration is crucial to success. Our scope 3 emissions are our clients’ scope 1 and 2 emissions, so together we have not only a mutual interest in reducing emissions to meet our climate goals, but also an opportunity to make a collective impact.

6. Lastly, how do you see climate change and equity intersecting?

The health of our planet, people, and communities are directly intertwined. Air pollution, severe weather events, increased temperatures, and other consequences of climate change are known to disproportionately affect lower income populations, members of minority groups, smaller and minority-owned business, older adults, and people with chronic diseases and disabilities. It is important, therefore, for private, public, and financial sector programs, investments, and partnerships directed at climate risk mitigation and adaptation to help promote environmental justice, expand job opportunities to disadvantaged populations, improve access to better nutrition, and otherwise help combat inequities associated with a warming planet.

Aramark’s Be Well. Do Well. sustainability plan reflects our interconnected approach to reducing inequity, supporting, and growing our communities, and protecting our planet. For example, we are pursuing goals and targets that continuously improve the efficiency of our operations, promote ethical and inclusive sourcing, increase access to nutrition education, reduce food insecurity, and build healthier communities. While we still have much work to do, we are taking steps every day – in partnership with our clients like Samsung and customers – that simultaneously reduce our GHG footprint and promote equity and well-being throughout our value chain.