Sustainability Goals

Goals

UCSF’s mission of advancing health worldwide holds true with the Department of Nutrition and Food Services (NFS) dedication to sustainability. NFS has multiple guiding principles when relating to foodservice sustainability. 

 

UCSF Health Cook Preparing Food

Practice Green Health 

UCSF follows the Practice Green Health: Healthy Food in Health Care Standards, which values local based economies, valued workforce, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, community health and nutrition, transparency and accountability and racial equity. 

 

UC Sustainable Practices Policy 

As a member of the UC system, NFS is required to meet the goals established by UCOP, including the UC Sustainable Practices Policy, which outlines sustainability goals for many aspects of operations including foodservice: 

  1. Each health location foodservice operation will strive to procure 30% sustainable food products by the year 2030 as defined by Practice Green Health, while maintaining accessibility and affordability for all health location’s foodservice patrons. 
  2. Each Health location will provide patrons and foodservice staff with access to educational and training materials that will help support their food choices. 
  3. Each Health location will strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of their food purchases through globally inspired, culturally acceptable plant-forward menus. 
    1. Each Health location will procure 30% plant-based food by 2030. 
    2. Progress will be tracked annually by reporting the percentage of plant-based foods. 

 

Coolfood Pledge 

UCSF Health has committed to the Coolfood Pledge, which aims to reduce the climate impact of food that organizations serve by shifting towards more plant-rich foods. Pledge members commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with served food by 25% by 2030 relative to a 2015 baseline. The weight of all animal-based foods and plant portions are reported, and Coolfood calculates the corresponding climate impact. 

 

Commitment to Scope 3 Reductions 

Scope 3 emissions are emissions indirectly produced by UCSF Health activities, including foodservice. UC Health signed onto the Health Sector Climate Pledge on May 26, 2022, committing to achieving net zero for all emission by 2050.