Sustainable food

We aim to:

• work with local producers and suppliers to increase the scale of local produce on campus – reducing food miles
  
• source ethical produce as standard that protects wildlife and nature, source Fairtrade produce where available and promote seasonality
  
• reduce food waste and packaging waste associated with catering and increase composting and recycling
  
• improve the availability of affordable, healthy and sustainable food in our food outlets and hospitality
  
• encourage our staff and students to get involved with community growing and other food related volunteering activities
  
• provide opportunities to learn about good food through our research, teaching and events
  
• promote and celebrate food through the diversity of our campus food outlets and food events 
  
• support University and city-wide food initiatives.
  

Our performance:

• Top Three Star standard from the Sustainable Restaurant Association renewed again in 2018 with a score of 76 per cent.
  
• Fairtrade University status.
  
• A reduction in use of over 10,000 disposable cups between February and September 2018.
  
• All our fresh milk is from Redruth in Cornwall and all coffee is either Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Certified or organic.
  
• Our fish comes from Plymouth and Brixham markets, and is MSC certified and/or from Responsible Fishing Scheme boats.
  
• All our meat is British and beef, pork and lamb comes from a family butcher in Exeter who is Red Tractor Certified and in turn sources meat from the South West.
  
• Our seasonal fruit and vegetables supplier is from Saltash and sources from the South West.
  
• Our near date food is collected and redistributed by UNICYCLE or is donated to Trevi House. 
  
• A Vegetarian Society accredited outlet: The Reservoir Café, and over 25 per cent of our dishes across our cafes are vegetarian.
  
• Use of environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals in all outlets.

Tamar Valley Food Hub collection point at Drake’s Café

Do you want to buy local food but don’t know where to find it? Look no further.

Tamar Valley Food Hubs are providing a collection and home delivery service for locally produced food. Similar to a veg box scheme and online supermarket combined, it is designed to make buying local food easier for consumers. Go online to shop for local and sustainable products including seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh bread, local cheese, other dairy, fish, meat, even local honey. 

Shop online 
Pick up hub: Drake’s Café
Collect your order: between 3.30pm–3.45pm from the friendly team on Fridays
Don’t forget to order by 9.30am on Wednesday. 

Tamar Valley Food Hubs is a non-profit making social enterprise made up of small-scale food and drink producers and their customers. By using us as part of your weekly shop, you will be directly supporting small producers and benefiting your community. 

Our sustainable food culture

We're creating a sustainable food culture that supports local, sustainable and Fairtrade produce and suppliers. And we're transforming our catering into a model of sustainable catering.

Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA)

In 2018 we were again awarded the top rating of three stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. This takes in to account our product sourcing, our commitments to reducing waste and environmental impacts, healthy eating and charity work. Wherever possible, we buy local produce, which reduces food miles and supports the local economy. We are continuing to reduce food waste and donate any food which is near its use by date to local charities. We are also constantly updating our menus, to include seasonal produce and expand our variety of healthy meals, especially vegetarian and vegan options. Information on our score can be found in the latest SRA report on our policies page.

Our produce, suppliers and near-date food

Since 2015 we have been using a local fish supplier who sources produce from Plymouth and Brixton fish markets, and is empowered to provide fish that is plentiful on the day and either MSC Certified or from boats that are part of the Responsible Fishing Scheme. The boats are small day boats, and many of them are rod and line. This supports the local fishing industry, removes air miles and increases quality.

All our meat is British and beef, pork and lamb is from an Exeter family butcher, Red Tractor Certified and sourced from the South West. Our fruit and vegetables supplier is from Saltash. Our baker is Friary Mill based in Plymouth. Our fresh milk is local, our eggs are free range, our coffee is Fairtrade. In fact, we're a Fairtrade University.

Our disposables are biodegradable. Our food prep and plate waste is collected and taken to an anaerobic digester at Langage Farm. Due to our food waste being carefully monitored, and stock ordered in fresh every few days, there is very little near/on date food that is wasted. Any consumable food waste left is donated to local women’s and children's refuge.

Whether you're a student or member of staff, we encourage you to grow your own. The Student Union Allotment society started in 2011, and has now expanded to over 12 beds – with seating logs and a shed full of tools for use. The society has exciting plans to increase the current vegetable beds and to renovate part of the allotment into an area dedicated to mental wellbeing.

Food in the city

We're closely connected to the food agenda evolving in the city. Plymouth sits against a backdrop of lower life expectancy than the national average, as well as pronounced differences between the richest and poorest wards. Providing community access to healthy food is a major issue for the city. 

Helping to solve these inequalities with access to healthy food is Food Plymouth – a city-wide, cross-sector partnership of organisations and businesses working to support Plymouth’s journey to becoming a Sustainable Food City. We were an initial funding partner, and are still actively supporting Food Plymouth’s mission. In 2014, Food Plymouth took the city of Plymouth to achieve Bronze Sustainable Food City Status, and they are now working with city businesses and community groups to achieve the Silver standard. 

More information on our cafes and menu options, and Fairtrade.