Edinburgh recognised at the Sustainable Food Places Awards

In June 2022, Edinburgh was awarded silver status by Sustainable Food Places, in recognition of the city’s pioneering work to promote healthy and sustainable food.

The award bid was led by Edible Edinburgh – a citywide partnership building new approaches to food in the capital – and saw the city judged on six themes: healthy and sustainable food, food poverty, the local food economy, community activity, public sector food and waste.

The Capital is one of just two Scottish cities to gain silver status which recognises the scale and ambition of the food-related activities undertaken in the city since 2019, when Edinburgh achieved the bronze award.

Since receiving this award last year Edinburgh has continued to develop more innovative approaches to promote sustainable food, celebrate the cultural diversity and recognise the importance of food for communities, businesses and citizens. 

In January 2023 Edinburgh became the first capital city in Europe to endorse the Plant Based Treaty in response to the climate emergency.

The partnership is just about to launch its second Sustainable Food City Plan which will run to 2030, to build on all the strong collaboration and good work being achieved by partners to make the changes towards a sustainable food future for Edinburgh.

Vivienne Swan, Edible Edinburgh’s Sustainable Food Coordinator will be receiving the award at the ceremony on behalf of Edinburgh and the partnership.

Council Leader Cammy Day, said:

Food has a pivotal role to play in helping to meet our key priorities to end poverty, become a net zero city and promote wellbeing and equality for all our residents.  This is exemplified by food charities such as Empty Kitchens Full Hearts who fulfil the needs of local communities and promote the positive impacts of affordable and nutritious food. I have been fortunate enough to visit this charity and see first-hand the excellent work they are carrying out across the city.

From our award-winning restaurants and food retailers, to our thriving community growing spaces, there are hundreds of initiatives running right across the city helping to contribute to our vibrant food economy.

It’s a credit to all these amazing people and groups that Edinburgh has gained a silver award, helping to show it is a place where people really care about healthy and sustainable food.

I’m proud that, together with Edible Edinburgh, we’re creating the right conditions for these activities to thrive and deliver real benefits to those most in need of our support.

Vivienne Swan, Edible Edinburgh’s Sustainable Food Coordinator said:

The Conference was a showcase of a committed and diverse network of cities, towns and regions all working towards shared vision and goals for food systems change.

Receiving the award on behalf of Edible Edinburgh was a privilege and endorsement of the many valuable projects and progress towards raising awareness of the challenges.

Activities that contributed to Edinburgh’s receipt of the award last year include:

• Providing 65,000 free, fresh and nutritious meals for those most in need during the coronavirus pandemic through the Food For Good Coalition – helping to raise awareness of food poverty in the city.
• Signing the Glasgow Food Declaration – a commitment to put food at the centre of Edinburgh’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies – and raise awareness of the vital role food plays in meeting net zero targets and protecting nature, as well as helping to reduce poverty, inequality and poor health.
• Launching a Sustainable Food Directory, through Edible Edinburgh. The directory is currently building its membership and aims to showcase the best places to find local, sustainable food across the city.
• Through Edinburgh’s first growing strategy, Growing Locally, committing to increasing participation in food growing activity in the city through allotment and community growing spaces, growing in schools and in city parks.
• Signing the Glasgow Food Declaration – a commitment to put food at the centre of Edinburgh’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies – and raise awareness of the vital role food plays in meeting net zero targets and protecting nature, as well as helping to reduce poverty, inequality and poor health.
• Launching a Sustainable Food Directory, through Edible Edinburgh. The directory is currently building its membership and aims to showcase the best places to find local, sustainable food across the city.
• Through Edinburgh’s first growing strategy, Growing Locally, committing to increasing participation in food growing activity in the city through allotment and community growing spaces, growing in schools and in city parks.