The survey, carried out by Populus on behalf of WWF-UK, also finds that 53% of millennials are more likely to eat at a restaurant, café or canteen if meat has been reared to high animal welfare standards. One in five would like to see restaurants offer an entirely meat free day.
The findings accompany the release of a new report Catering for Sustainability from WWF-UK, Sodexo UK & Ireland and the Food Ethics Council. The report sets out a clear business case for sustainable meals – and shows that adopting sustainable menus can improve business revenues and profits, and mitigate supply chain risks.
Edwina Hughes, corporate responsibility manager for Sodexo UK and Ireland commented: “Working with WWF we recently piloted a set of ‘Green & Lean’ sustainable meals in our independent schools business, taking popular recipes such as chicken pie and beef lasagne and making small changes to make these meals more sustainable and nutritious.
“We were pleased with the feedback from students and the wider schools communities, who were happy with the recipes, but also keen to engage with the issue of sustainable eating.”
The report recommends that foodservice companies pilot sustainable menus, remove ingredients that are unsustainably sourced and share examples of best practice across the industry.
20% of millennials say they intend to eat less meat over the coming year, representing a significant opportunity for foodservice companies to make vegetables a central part of their menu. Of those planning to cut down on meat, 68% reported that they wanted to be able to choose plant-based options from the menu.
Dan Crossley, executive director of the Food Ethics Council said: “Most people in the UK eat out at work canteens, fast food outlets or high-end restaurants. The choices offered there have huge impacts not just on our own health, but on the health of the planet.
“Our research shows that foodservice companies stepping up to the plate and offering ‘better’ sets of choices to customers are likely to be more profitable in the long run”