Healthy and sustainable food for all
Everyone should have the right to good food that is made with care for the environment.
Millions of people in the UK don’t have access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy. That includes children in schools, and people in hospitals, care homes and workplaces. A lot of the food we eat is still made ways that harm our natural world and our health.
We know that it is possible to change the system to make sure healthy and sustainable food is available, affordable and accessible to all.
What is healthy and sustainable food?
Healthy and sustainable food is good for both people and the environment. It’s food that is available locally, in season and can be grown through nature-friendly farming systems, like organic.
In the UK, eating a healthy and sustainable diet typically includes;
- more and better plants: vegetables, nuts, pulses, fruit and wholegrains that are sourced locally, in season, and preferably organic
- less and better meat and dairy: British, local, and sourced from higher welfare farming, like organic
- a variety of aquatic plant or animal products that are sourced in a sustainable way
- less food high in fat salt and sugar
- more whole and minimally processed foods, and fewer ultra-processed foods
- avoiding food waste
What is the Soil Association doing to transform the way we eat?
We set and certify high standards for food
Our Food for Life programme has worked with public food providers and businesses for 15 years. Through this network, we serve over a million healthy and sustainable meals per day in the UK.
- We provide the Food for Life Served Here certification for food in out-of-home settings. This independently certifies meals that have met our standards of sourcing local, sustainable and seasonal food.
- Our Green Kitchen Standard recognises caterers taking positive steps to reduce their energy, water and waste usage.
- Our Schools and Early Years Awards encourages a whole setting approach to food. This means good food is a part of the school day from canteen to classroom. Children grow and cook food, enjoy high quality meals and learn about where food comes from.
We set up support and advisory programmes and partnerships
- Our Cool Food Pro tool uses data to support caterers to reduce their environmental impact by sourcing more organic, local and seasonal options whilst also suggesting more diverse protein options and reducing food waste.
- Our Sustainable Supplier Scheme provides caterers easy access to the highest quality, sustainable products on the market. It connects them with producers, wholesalers and innovators.
- We partner with local authorities. We provide advice and support to encourage a good food culture in and out of school by linking up food providers, settings and community initiatives.
- Our Sustainable Food Places programme has created a network of over 150 partnerships across the UK. It connects businesses and people in the food supply chain to make healthy and sustainable food a key part of local communities.
We campaign
- We create public campaigns to lobby and influence the UK government on various food issues. This includes food on the high street, in public places, in supermarkets and at popular attractions. We also campaign for more sustainable, nature-friendly farming that provides healthy whole and minimally processed foods, without harming the environment.
- Our Plant and Share and Cook and Share campaigns encourages people to grow, cook, eat and share food in places like schools, community centres, nurseries and at community seed swaps.
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Transforming the way we farm
Find out about our solution-focused approach to farming.
What can you do to help us make sure healthy and sustainable food is available, affordable and accessible to all?
Choose where you eat out
Our Out to Lunch campaign has improved over 50 million children's meals out on the high street and at visitor attractions each year.
Become a better food champion
If you have kids, ask their school if they are Food For Life awarded. If your workplace has inhouse caterers find out if they are Food For Life certified
Get planting and cooking
Have a look through our simple and easy cook and share and plant and share activities and recipes about cooking and growing
Look for the Soil Association organic logo
Choose good food. Here are all the ways that you can buy organic and support your local organic farmer.
Support the Soil Association
Together we can transform the way we eat and make good food a part of our daily lives, in schools and everywhere we go. With your help, we can achieve our goal of providing healthy sustainable food for all by 2030. Please donate today.
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Sustainable Food Places
Find out about our place-based food partnership movement.
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Become a member
Change the system. Join the good food revolution by becoming a member today.
