Goal 2: Policies, processes and practices
The following page outlines specific policies, processes and practices in support of Sustainable Development Goal 2 Zero Hunger.
Food waste tracking
We measure the amount of food waste generated across the University campus. Our amount of food waste in 2021/22 is published on our publicly accessible website.
Tackling food insecurity
We provide interventions to target hunger among staff and students. St Peters House, our campus chaplaincy, has a scheme at The Well which provides food parcels to any staff or student in need. Our Students’ Union has dedicated advisors that can issue vouchers to staff and students for the food bank network within Greater Manchester.
Our Cost of Living Support fund helps students who are at risk of food insecurity or hunger due to low levels of personal finance. We also have student support resources on where to access and how to budget for safe, nutritional food.
We provide a range of free access to food security and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture knowledge, skills or technology to local farmers and food producers. We’re part of N8 Agrifood and collaborate with Veg Box People to share innovative strategies for addressing food security challenges and develop practical tools to enable local farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers to better respond to increasing stresses and risks.
Sustainable food choices
As a Fairtrade University we are committed to sustainable food choices on campus. We prioritise the purchase of products from local, sustainable sources. FoodonCampus and FoodInResidence are committed to procuring produce locally wherever possible. We commit to a minimum annual spend with Manchester Veg People who are a local co-operative of organic farmers. We have received a one-star Fairtrade University award and have also achieved a Catey award for sustainability.
We provide healthy and affordable food choices throughout all our food outlets. All of our food traders serve vegetarian and vegan options with a focus on using local suppliers. To ensure affordability, students and staff receive 10% off all purchases in our wholly-owned campus outlets when they pay using their Food in Advance card.