Green Gown Awards 2019 - University of Chester - Finalist

The University of Chester has taken the lead in the Higher Education sector in championing the use of Sustainable Palm Oil. The University achieved champion status as part of Chester Zoo’s Sustainable Palm Oil Challenge, which aims to create greater demand in the UK for sustainable palm oil. Our Catering team has worked closely with its suppliers to ensure that every food or drink product sold across the institution’s catering outlets contains only sustainably sourced palm oil.  

Whilst reviewing the ingredients of all the food purchased, the group quickly discovered that palm oil was a hidden ingredient in many products and external suppliers could not always trace its source when asked. The University asked its suppliers to pledge their support by making changes in either the products provided or in sourcing of ingredients.  

The University has its own Artisan Baker and their recipes have been changed to ensure that everything they create uses sustainable palm oil. 

Top 3 learnings 

• We didn’t realise how prevalent palm oil is in our everyday life and day-to-day products. 
• We learnt that not all palm oil is bad, only the way it is farmed. 
• By making a simple change this can start a chain reaction.  

Videos

• Green Gown Awards 2019 - University of Chester - Campus, Health, Food & Drink (click to hide)