Sustainability

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Fairtrade products

At the University of Leeds, we are passionate about Fairtrade and have been supporting and selling Fairtrade products since 2003.

In 2005 the University of Leeds obtained Fairtrade status and our continued support has helped Yorkshire to be named the first Fairtrade region in the country.

  • We were one of the first University’s to champion Fairtrade by taking part in the NUS Fairtrade University pilot.
  • We have a cross-institutional Fairtrade Committee with members of wide-reaching influence across campus.
  • We report to the Fairtrade Foundation annually on sales of our Fairtrade items.
Falafel Salad

Locally sourced

Great Food at Leeds use locally sourced food wherever possible and 65% of our suppliers are within 40 miles of the University.

We follow a strict food policy which ensures ethical, sustainable procurement of all food.

Sustainable Restaurant 3 Start 2024-26

Sustainable Restaurant Association

Great Food at Leeds (GFaL) are proud to have been awarded a three star award by the Sustainable Restaurant Association as part of their ‘Food Made Good’ sustainability rating. GFaL’s actions in the following areas were highlighted:

  • Monitoring and reducing food waste
  • Commitment to treating customers and staff fairly.
  • Ensuring our students have access to healthy and affordable food.
  • Supporting the community and charities

Sustainable KeepCups

We have worked closely with our friends from the Sustainability Service at the University of Leeds to provide a high-quality reusable cup option for our customers.

University of Leeds KeepCups are available to buy from Great Food at Leeds outlets on campus. Get a free drink when you purchase a KeepCup and save 20p on future drinks each time you use it.

Green Tourism Gold

The Refectory was awarded Green Tourism Gold in 2025. This internationally recognised sustainability accreditation acknowledges travel, tourism and hospitality businesses that demonstrate exceptional standards of sustainable practices.

The cornerstone of the Refectory’s submission was the commitment to sourcing local, sustainably produced products and providing extensive vegan and vegetarian food choices. This is testament to the dedication of our team to ensure our practices are as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

Read our blog to find out more about our submission.

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