Swansea University celebrates top sustainability rating for campus catering

Swansea University has reached a major sustainability milestone, with catering partner Chartwells achieving a Three-Star Food Made Good Standard — the highest accreditation awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

This top-tier rating recognises the substantial progress made across the University’s catering operations in delivering sustainable, responsible and high-quality food services for students, staff and visitors.The SRA’s independently audited framework assesses organisations through a comprehensive 360-degree review, focusing on three core pillars:

Sourcing, Society and Environment.

Chartwell’s three-star rating reflects a strong performance and continued improvement across these key areas at Swansea University, including:
• Sourcing — Responsible procurement practices, increased support for local producers, sustainably sourced fish and an expanded range of plant-based options
• Society — A strong focus on staff wellbeing, positive contributions to the University community and the provision of healthy, ethically produced food
• Environment — Reduced food waste, improved energy and water efficiency and meaningful action to lower the overall carbon footprint

The rating also reflects Swansea University’s commitment to leading by example in sustainable catering, supporting wider efforts to reduce environmental impact and enhance social value across campus.

Rachel Carter, Managing Director of Chartwells, said: “Achieving this standard strengthens our position as a responsible and forward-thinking catering partner, aligned with the values of today’s environmentally conscious students, staff and stakeholders.

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teams across Swansea University, and we look forward to building on this success as we continue our journey towards a more sustainable future.”

Teifion Maddocks, Sustainability Lead at Swansea University, added: “Each year, students and staff tell us through our annual catering survey that they want more sustainable food options on campus.

“This award shows that Swansea University takes the sustainability of its catering seriously and is actively supporting our ambition to become a net zero, nature positive, and zero waste university.”