Healthy and sustainable food for all
Everyone should be able to eat food that’s good for their health and the planet. We’re working to transform how food is grown, produced and served, so healthy, sustainable food is accessible and affordable for everyone.
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Millions of people in the UK don’t have access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy. That includes children in schools, and people in hospitals, care homes and workplaces. A lot of the food we eat is still made in ways that harm our natural world and our health.
We know that it is possible to change the system to make sure healthy and sustainable food is available, affordable and accessible to all.
What is healthy and sustainable food?
Healthy and sustainable food is good for both people and the environment. It’s food that is available locally, in season and can be grown through nature-friendly farming systems, like organic.
In the UK, eating a healthy and sustainable diet typically includes:
- more and better plants: vegetables, nuts, pulses, fruit and wholegrains that are sourced locally, in season, and preferably organic
- less and better meat and dairy: British, local, and sourced from higher welfare farming, like organic
- a variety of aquatic plant or animal products that are sourced in a sustainable way
- less food high in fat, salt and sugar
- more whole and minimally processed foods, and fewer ultra-processed foods
- avoiding food waste
What is the Soil Association doing to transform the way we eat?
We set and certify high standards for food
Our Food for Life programme has worked with public food providers and businesses for over 15 years. Through this network, we serve over a million healthy and sustainable meals per day in the UK. Through this programme:
- we provide the Food for Life Served Here certification for food in out-of-home settings. This independently certifies meals.
- our Green Kitchen Standard recognises caterers taking positive steps to reduce their energy, water and waste usage.
- our Schools and Early Years Awards encourage a whole setting approach to food. This means good food is a part of the school day from canteen to classroom. Children grow and cook food, enjoy high quality meals and learn about where food comes from.
We set up support and advisory programmes and partnerships
Our Cool Food Pro tool uses data to support caterers to reduce their environmental impact by sourcing more organic, local and seasonal options whilst also suggesting more diverse protein options and reducing food waste.
Our Sustainable Supplier Scheme provides caterers with easy access to the highest quality, sustainable products on the market. It connects them with producers, wholesalers and innovators.
We partner with local authorities to provide advice and support to encourage a good food culture in and out of school by linking up food providers, settings and community initiatives.
Our Sustainable Food Places programme has created a network of over 150 partnerships across the UK. It connects businesses and people in the food supply chain to make healthy and sustainable food a key part of local communities.
We campaign
We create public campaigns to lobby and influence the UK government on various food issues. This includes food on the high street, in public places, in supermarkets and at popular attractions. We also campaign for more sustainable, nature-friendly farming that provides healthy, whole and minimally-processed foods, without harming the environment.
Our Plant and Share and Cook and Share campaigns encourage people to grow, cook, eat and share food in places like schools, community centres, nurseries and at community seed swaps.
The programme is about serving the best food possible on very tight budgets, but it’s also about educating students about where their food comes from, how to grow, how to cook and how to make the school lunch a social occasion.
How you can help make healthy, sustainable food available to all
Choose where you eat out
Our Out to Lunch campaign has improved over 50 million children's meals out on the high street and at visitor attractions each year.
Become a better food champion
If you have kids, ask their school if they are Food For Life awarded. If your workplace has in-house caterers, find out if they are Food For Life certified.
Get planting and cooking
Have a look through our simple and easy cook and share and plant and share activities and recipes about cooking and growing.
Look for the Soil Association organic symbol
Choose good food. Look out for the Soil Association organic symbol on your food and learn more about buying organic food and supporting local farmers.
Support the Soil Association
With your support, we can change the way food is produced and eaten - protecting nature, supporting farmers and helping everyone access healthy, sustainable food. Together, we can build a food system that works for people and planet. Donate today
Become a member
By joining us as a member today, we can prevent a human health disaster and continue to improve the lives of millions of farm animals.
Our mission is to fix food for all, from farm to fork. We work with caterers, schools and communities within local food systems to make good, healthy and affordable food accessible to everyone. Find out how we are transforming the food system