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How Zebedees Supports Nurseries in Meeting New Sustainability Guidelines

22nd July 2025

As part of new government guidance introduced earlier this year, nurseries are now required to nominate a Sustainability Lead and develop a Climate Action Plan to reduce their environmental impact. At Zebedees, we’re proud to say that sustainability isn’t just a tick-box for us it’s part of who we are. 

We believe in leading by example and actively helping nurseries reduce their own carbon footprints through the way we prepare and deliver our food. From energy-saving equipment to smart delivery systems, here's how our processes and services can make a real difference. 

Helping Nurseries Reduce Their Environmental Impact 

Choosing Zebedees doesn't just mean nutritious, freshly prepared meals for children it also means less energy use, less waste, and more flexibility for your nursery. 

  • No cooking required: Because we deliver fully prepared hot meals, there’s no need for you to run ovens, hobs, or dishwashers, cutting down your electricity, gas and water use. 

  • Order exactly what you need: Our easy-to-use online system, ZOO, lets you order precise meal numbers, helping you minimise food waste. 

  • Flexible ordering: You can adjust your order up to 12 noon the day before delivery, making it easier to respond to changing attendance. 

  • Reusable packaging: We deliver meals in reusable catering tins, no single-use containers, no excess packaging. 

Our Processes: Behind the Scenes at Zebedees 

We're constantly refining our operations to reduce our environmental footprint. Here are some of the ways we’re making a difference every day: 

Smart Use of Resources 

  • Heat Exchange Pump: We reuse hot air from our fridges and freezers to heat water and cool our kitchens. 

  • Hobart Warewasher: This innovative machine saves 500,000 litres of water annually compared to standard dishwashers. 

Cleaner Commuting 

  • We operate two staff shuttle buses and encourage car sharing. 

  • Our car park includes EV charging points. 

  • Our delivery fleet is transitioning to fully hybrid and electric vehicles. 

Energy Efficiency Everywhere 

  • We use low-energy LED bulbs throughout our premises. 

  • Propelair toilets reduce water use by 84 percent compared to standard WCs. 

  • All our toilets are fitted with low-energy hand dryers.  

Reducing, Reusing & Recycling 

We’ve taken big steps to ensure that waste is minimised, and materials are reused or recycled wherever possible: 

  • We divert over 50 tonnes of food waste annually from landfill to an in-vessel composting facility, where it's turned into high-quality compost. 

  • More than 20 tonnes of cardboard are pulped and recycled each year. 

  • Around 16 tonnes of metal waste are recycled through specialist firms. 

  • All paper is reused and recycled internally before final processing. 

  • We recycle old computers, mobile phones, printer cartridges, fluorescent tubes, batteries, wooden pallets and unwanted equipment. 

Our Ongoing Commitment 

We are currently working towards our Silver Certificate under the Steps to Environmental Management Scheme (STEM), a nationally recognised framework that demonstrates our continuous efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and support our partners in doing the same. 

Partnering with Zebedees Means Supporting a Sustainable Future 

We know that early years providers care deeply about the world children will grow up in. By partnering with Zebedees, nurseries not only receive high-quality meals, but also gain a trusted ally in achieving their sustainability goals. 

Want to include Zebedees in your nurseries Climate Action Plan? 

Get in touch today

  

 

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