Making 2.4 billion meals a year more climate-friendly
The Coolfood Pledge
Join a growing movement to put sustainability on the menu
The Coolfood Pledge helps your organization commit to and achieve a science-based target to reduce the climate impact of the food you serve. Organizations serving 2.4 billion meals a year have signed up. Members are guided through a three-step approach: Pledge, Plan, and Promote.
Pledge
Coolfood Pledge members commit to a target of reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the food they serve by 25 percent by 2030 relative to a 2015 baseline – a level of ambition in line with achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Pledge members confidentially report food purchase amounts by weight each year. Our team asks for data on all animal-based foods, as well as plant proteins, which collectively tend to make up 80-90 percent of an organization’s food-related GHG emissions.
We determine the climate impact of food using the Coolfood Calculator. The analysis is undertaken by World Resources Institute based upon a peer reviewed methodology. Each member receives an annual report showing GHG emissions by food type, trends year-over-year, and comparison.
Coolfood Methodology
A peer-reviewed method to help set and measure your target.
Coolfood Calculator
We estimate the GHG emissions associated with the food you buy.
Coolfood Progress
2023 Coolfood Pledge Collective Climate Impact Report.
Plan
We’re here to help. Informed by the pioneering work of the Better Buying Lab, our Coolfood team guides members through a strategic planning process to serve more climate friendly food while meeting other dining related targets. Our research has led to our Playbook, which serves as the backbone of the plan process.
The Playbook offers a powerful list of 90 techniques crafted by WRI’s behavioral scientists to supercharge demand for plant-rich dishes. Out of these, we’ve spotlighted 18 “no regret” strategies, backed by solid research and industry success.
Promote
The Coolfood Pledge team works with members to create inspiring messaging that engages diners and employees. We also promote members’ performance against the science-based target and achievements in the press and on social media. Members’ collective performance against the GHG target is published annually, and individual achievements are celebrated at an annual event.
Benefits of Joining
- Directly engage your employees and diners in your sustainability efforts
- Meet your employees’ and diners’ evolving dietary preferences and needs
- Reduce your supply chain (“Scope 3”) GHG emissions
- Build your reputation as leader in a growing movement that is tackling the climate impact of food.
Featured In
Have questions?
We’ve got answers. Have a look at our FAQs about The Coolfood Pledge.
Our Members
A
Aramark
B
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Bloomberg
Boston Medical Center
Brandeis University
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
C
ChristianaCare
City of Copenhagen
City of Ghent
City of Milan
City of New York
City of Toronto
Concord Hospital
D
F
Fraser Health – Burnaby Hospital
Fraser Health – Langley Memorial Hospital
Froedtert Hospital
G
Genentech
General Hospital of Syros
Great Ormand Street Hospital
H
Hamilton Health Services – Hamilton General
Hamilton Health Services – St. Peter’s
Hamilton Health Services – Jirvinsky
Hamilton Health Services – McMaster
Hamilton Health Services – West Lincoln
Harvard University
I
Indiana University Health
ISS
M
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Montefiore Health System
Morristown Medical Center
Mount Sinai Health System
N
Nestlé
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
New York University
O
Jirvinsky – HHS
P
R
S
Six Nations – Iroquois Lodge
Spectrum Health Medical Center
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Parkwood Institute
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Parkwood Mental Health Care
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Parkwood Veteran’s Care
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – St. Joseph’s Hospital
St. Joseph’s Health Care London – Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
T
Tirol Kliniken
U
UC Irvine Health
UCLA Health
UC San Diego Health
UCSF Health
Unity Health – Providence
Unity Health – St. Michael’s
Unity Health – St. Joseph’s
University of Maryland
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Vermont Medical Center
UT Austin
UW Health
V
Virginia Mason Medical Center
W
Williams College
World Bank
Z
Zuckerburg San Francisco General Hopsital
The Coolfood Pledge is an initiative of:
