The three star rating is for the universities catering service, including Unicafe outlets, food in residence and hospitality on campus. The Food Made Good assessment scores were:
- 79% for Sourcing – due to the Fairtrade leadership, responsible and local procurement as well as prioritisation of plant-forward menus with higher welfare animal products.
- 88% for Society – for treating colleagues fairly, promoting healthy menus, and operation of community fridges on campus.
- 84% for Environment – reflecting the strong action of waste reduction, Net Zero commitments, and student engagement.
University students can cut waste by getting their coffee from UniCafe in a Bee Cup, the reusable cup scheme that saves people money and reduces single-use waste.
The Food Made Good Standard certification recognises outstanding leadership in sustainable and ethical sourcing, community impact, and environmental responsibility across our food services, and is valid until December 2027.
Julia Durkan, head of sustainability at the University of Manchester, said: “This achievement is a proud moment for the university, and a powerful recognition of the collective effort behind our catering and hospitality operations. It reflects our deep commitment to reducing carbon, restoring nature, and using resources responsibly through sustainable consumption and procurement.
“A huge thank you to everyone involved including our catering and hospitality team, suppliers, partners, staff and students for their hard work and leadership turning our ambitions into meaningful action for people and planet.”