Co-developing a Food Waste Workshop to Inspire Action
Challenge
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Sodexo, the French food services company, have a long-standing partnership based on their common global goal of reducing food waste. WWF developed a food waste report outlining opportunities for Sodexo’s front and back of house operations. WWF needed support to make the report actionable and focused on next steps and future growth.
Implementation
WWF partnered with Global Impact Collective to design and deliver an interactive workshop for partnership participants that translated the findings of the food waste report developed by WWF for Sodexo into clear, practical insights for frontline teams. The workshop was designed to move beyond a traditional report readout, using engaging formats to clearly convey the data, key findings, and implications so participants fully understood what the research showed and why it mattered for Sodexo’s operations. High-energy sessions included a game show Q&A as well as slower-paced sessions like gallery tour walks for individuals to take in information differently during breaks.
Through facilitated discussions and hands-on activities, participants were supported in connecting the findings to their own roles, responsibilities, and day-to-day decision-making. Chefs, procurement managers, and sustainability leaders reflected on where food waste shows up in their systems and what barriers they face in addressing it. Using a systems thinking approach, the team was able to see how waste in one part of the system could be caused by, or addressed, elsewhere in the system.
The workshop then shifted into creative, interactive sessions that enabled participants to brainstorm how to implement the report’s recommendations in ways that were realistic and actionable for their jobs. Using design-thinking techniques, teams generated and refined ideas to improve food waste prevention across menus, sourcing, and operations. It strengthened not only the practicality of the recommendations but also built shared ownership for turning insight into action in an aligned global approach.
Ultimately, participants gained a shared understanding of food waste drivers, identified practical opportunities within their own roles, and co-created implementation strategies grounded in operational reality. Designed for diverse teams across Europe and the US, the session fostered inclusive dialogue, cross-functional learning, and a coordinated approach to food waste reduction.
Impact
Global Impact Collective’s action-oriented approach turned research into real-world impact. While this partnership is one of many initiatives at Sodexo, the company was on track to reach half its food waste by 2025 and is on track to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040.
