The original working group, which looked at a range of facilities management services, reported in July 2008, but did not make any specific recommendations in respect of sustainable catering.
The Defence Food Services Integrated Project Team has established a separate sustainability working group to look specifically at sustainable catering procurement.
Achievements to date include reducing the overall carbon footprint through reductions in storage and transport of ration packs and by amending the frequency of deliveries and routes to military establishments. The Defence Food Services Integrated Project Team has also introduced a range of ethically traded products and increased the proportion of food it sources from UK suppliers; initiatives are under way to increase this further. The team has also held a sustainability launch event which aimed to give small and medium suppliers the ability to improve their own environmental management.