Food has a large impact on our physical health, mental wellbeing and the environment.
The team at Chartwells, our catering partners, work hard to improve their offer of freshly prepared, healthy, affordable, ethical and sustainable food, that is of course delicious, and have achieved the Sustainable Restaurant Association 3 star Food Made Good Sustainability Award in 2023 (pdf, 314kb).
We are also proud to be the only university in the UK to achieve 3 star Fairtrade University status, within the Fairtrade Universities & Colleges scheme, ran by Fairtrade Foundation and SOS-UK.
As a University, we commit to promoting plant-based and low-carbon meals as well as minimising food waste in order to reduce our environmental impact. We have a Cup Exchange Scheme and a coffee cup tax to discourage the use of single-use cups, and we are proud to be the first Refill Campus, with 45 brightly coloured water refill points across our campuses to support our staff, students and guests avoid single-use plastic water bottles.
Visit our People and Policies page to see the most up to date policies: Sustainable and Ethical Food Policy, Sustainable Procurement Policy and Fairtrade Policy.
Sustainable food choices
We are a Fairtrade University
Reducing food waste
Reducing disposable coffee cups (Cup Exchange Scheme)
Sustainable palm oil
Get growing!
Student projects
Community food
Community Kitchen
Student research into sustainable food
Sustainable Restaurant Association 3 stars
Student Food Ambassadors
We are a Refill Campus!
Plant-based milks
Healthy, affordable, sustainable recipes
Alice Evans
BSc Nutrition student, who completed a work placement with Chartwells
"This placement was a brilliant opportunity to learn so many new technical skills that I’m excited to use in my future career. The whole process was very rewarding, especially because the final range of products are available nationally to buy and enjoy!
What can I do?
Read more about our sustainable procurement practices
Student projects
The Social Kitchen
Hear from our supplier
Chartwells at Bournemouth University is delighted to have achieved a 3 star rating in the Sustainable Restaurant Association Food Made Good Sustainability standard – the highest possible rating."
Shane Wilson – Catering Manager Talbot Campus