Bartlett Mitchell, an independent contract caterer that powers business offering bespoke services and our ‘fundamentally food’ philosophy, has achieved Planet Mark certification.

This is Bartlett Mitchell’s fourth year of business carbon footprint reporting and Planet Mark certification. Since certifying to Planet Mark, the company has set a target to reduce emissions by 5% annually.

Sustainability and ethics underpin everything Bartlett Mitchell does. As well as being the first contract caterer to achieve certification to Planet Mark, the company also was the first caterer to achieve Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) Three Star Champion Status, earning ‘most sustainable contract caterer’ with the Food Made Good award. To achieve this, many sustainable policies, such as sourcing local and seasonal producers, sourcing high-welfare produce, and a commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle, have been implemented.

The culinary industry is a major focus point of the need to invest in sustainable products. Sustainable practice offers a way to both attract new customers and retain existing customers. A new way of conducting business could be beneficial for both the planet and for companies’ ongoing profits. However, a sustainability policy must encompass both the way food is produced and the business’ own supply chain and processes. 

Bartlett Mitchell has always wanted to create a workplace that team members enjoy and that clients really want to work with. As one of the UK’s largest independently-minded contract caterers, that means being a business with a social conscience.

Bartlett Mitchell’s aim is to keep improving sustainability performance, setting measurable objectives and targets every year; and monitoring progress towards them.

The company’s sustainability achievements are shared on a daily basis across multiple platforms including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Bartlett Mitchell’s approach to messaging is uncomplicated. Initially, the approach has been to identify the company’s sustainability pillars and focus on what can be collectively done to make a difference. One of their messages has focused on cutting down single-use packaging. Bartlett Mitchell now sells a range of reusable cups and packaging which has been embraced by its customers.

The Green Roadshows that Bartlett Mitchell run have been a fantastic way of showcasing its sustainability approach to customers. One of the biggest influences Bartlett Mitchell has on its customers is demonstrating the importance of knowing where your food has come from and how it has been cared for.

Bartlett Mitchell has a dedicated ‘Green Team’ and holds regular customer engagement programmes and Q&A sessions. In addition, it is one of the founding members of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, and awarded Sustainable Caterer of the Year for three consecutive years alongside numerous other environmental awards and was the first contract caterer to sign up to the Planet Mark.

Not only do Bartlett Mitchell strive to make a positive impact on the planet but also on people and communities. Bartlett Mitchell aligned with a coffee growing co-operative in Soppexca in Nicaragua and committed to purchasing all its coffee beans. From this, Bartlett Mitchell created its own brand of coffee blend called Perkee which over 80% of its client sites use. Bartlett Mitchell also helped to fund the co-operative to build facilities to bake biscuits through the non-harvesting months.