Council signs food purchasing pledge with school catering partner
As most of the food purchased by the council is for school meals, the council will work with council-owned catering company BD Together to fulfil the commitment
Barking and Dagenham Council has officially launched its ‘Good Food Action Plan’ today (2 April), and also signed up to the London Food Purchasing Commitment alongside school catering partner BD Together.
Today’s launch event has set out how the council aims to improve access to healthy, sustainable food for its residents.
The council has become the fifth London borough to sign the Purchasing Commitment, meaning that Barking and Dagenham will ensure that food bought and served across council-controlled services is climate-friendly, that there is less wasted, and that local and sustainable food producers and growers are supported.
As most of the food purchased by the council is for school meals, the council will work with council-owned catering company BD Together to fulfil the commitment.
BD Together currently provides school meals for 37 schools, preparing 2.9 million meals and spending an estimated £3.6m on food every year.
The Good Food Plan will coordinate further food action to improve access to healthy and culturally appropriate food; improve young people’s access to inspiring food education; increase the supply of sustainable food; develop Barking and Dagenham’s local food economy; and raise awareness of the role and value of good food.
Cllr Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This borough has always been committed to doing what it can to support achieving net-zero, and by signing up to this commitment we’ve taken another important step to hitting that target.
“The Commitment is a win-win: less food waste going to landfill, and a better food offer for our schools and young people.”
Darren Tranter, CEO of BD Group, added: “We are thrilled to be working with the council on the London Food Purchasing Commitment. The commitment will help us improve our school food service, so that every meal we provide is not only nutritious and delicious but also sustainable and environmentally friendly.”