Caterers can cut 1 million tonnes of CO2

The UK's catering sector could save more than one million tonnes of carbon and £250 million each year by being more energy efficient, according to research by the Carbon Trust

Organisations can reduce their kitchens’ energy consumption by around 30% through optimising equipment use, better kitchen designs, tailoring menus and behaviour change programmes, says the trust.

To assist catering firms in improving their sustainability credentials and to cut costs, the trust has worked with Defra and catering industry bodies, including the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA), to develop a new carbon measurement tool for the sector.

Nick Oryino, chair of CESA, said the calculator had the potential to radically change the way in which capital and operating expenditure costs are judged in the sector and ensure that more efficient equipment is manufactured.