Sustain's policies

Sustain advocates for government and industry policies and practices to support sustainable farming and fishing, and healthy and sustainable diets, accessible for everyone. Many of our policies reflect these goals.

We also implement internal policies to ensure that we are 'walking our talk' with healthy, ethical and sustainable practices; and being a good employer. Our policies and statements of approach are grouped under the following broad headings:

• Healthy and sustainable food policies
• Environmental policies
• Ethical policies
• Some of our employment policies
• Health and well-being
• Good governance
• Prevention of bullying and harassment
• Making a complaint

Healthy and sustainable food policies

Sustain's policy on Greener Food 
 Download 135kb PDF
Note: Our sustainable food guidelines are also available online at: www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood

Sustain's Model Catering Policy, for communicating sustainable food guidelines simply to caterers providing food for our staff and guests at events, venues and meetings
 Download 600kb PDF (updated January 2020)

Sustain as a Fairtrade Workplace
Sustain is registered as a Fairtrade workplace, committed to buying Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar, fruit and other products, and to promoting Fairtrade products for events and meetings. 

See also: What is sustainable food? - Sustain's working definition for good food that is produced, processed, distributed and disposed of in ways that are healthy, ethical and sustainable.

Environmental policies

As well as our healthy and sustainable food policies (above), the following environmental policies also apply.

Making time for climate, nature and social justice (volunteering policy)
Sustain has adopted a system of ‘volunteering days’ for staff to take a day out of the office, to participate in some form of climate, nature or social justice activity. The purpose is to support Sustain staff taking part in climate, nature and social justice activities that develop knowledge, skills, sense of agency, diversity of experience and thoughtful connections.
 Download 624kb PDF (adopted January 2020)

Sustain's policy on Greener Travel 
 Download 573kb PDF (updated January 2019)

Sustain's policy on Greener Housekeeping 
 Download 890kb PDF (updated January 2020)

Ethical policies

 Sustain's policy on Ethical Funding 
 Download 865kb PDF (updated August 2020)

Sustain commits to an ethical approach to fundraising by means of our Fundraising Promise, in line with guidance from the Fundraising Regulator. 

Sustain’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and racial justice
Read details of our approach to equity, diversity, inclusion and racial justice (web page, updated regularly)

We publish annual progress reports on Sustain’s work to improve equity, diversity and inclusion, and to promote racial justice. Read the most recent progress reports here.

Sustain's Diversity Style Guide
This is Sustain’s guide to writing about, portraying and providing a platform for diversity and racial justice in the food and farming system.
 Link to publication download page (updated April 2025)

Sustain's policy on Ethical Advertising
 Download 624kb PDF (updated April 2020)

Some of our employment policies

People considering working at Sustain may be interested in some of our key employment policies. 

Sustain's approach to recruitment for diversity
See our web page here

Sustain is an accredited Living Wage Employer, guaranteeing to pay at or above the real Living Wage (nationally) or London Living Wage (in London), as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation

Health and well-being

Sustain treats the health and well-being of colleagues as a priority. Here are some of our health and well-being policies and practices.

Sustain's policy on Health & Safety
 Download 660kb PDF (updated April 2020)

Sustain's statement on Mental Health
 Download 660kb PDF (updated April 2020)

Sustain's Mental Health Policy
 Download 575kb PDF (updated June 2021)

Sustain's policy on Safeguarding (working with children and vulnerable adults)
 Download 594kb PDF (updated July 2023)

Sustain's policy and guidance on Safeguarding at Sustain events
  Download 803kb PDF (updated May 2024)

Sustain's policy on Bullying and Harassment
 Download 158kb PDF (updated August 2022)

Good governance 

Sustain's policy and procedure for dealing with Complaints
 Download 424kb PDF (updated July 2021)

Sustain's policy on Conflicts of Interest
 Download 752kb PDF (updated May 2018)

Sustain's policy on Anti-Bribery, Fraud and Corruption
 Download 863kb PDF (updated January 2020)

Sustain's policy on expenses for staff, volunteers and trustees
 Download 645kb PDF (updated May 2018)

Sustain's policy on Whistleblowing 
 Download 242kb PDF (updated August 2022)

You can read Sustain's policy on Data Protection and Privacy at: www.sustainweb.org/home/privacy/

 Prevention of bullying and harassment

All employers have a duty to anticipate when sexual harassment may occur and take reasonable steps to prevent it. The policy sets out the steps Sustain has taken to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace with links to the relevant documents and forms with a process flow and links to further support. The purpose of this policy is prevent and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and create a inclusive, supportive and safe environment for everyone at Sustain. This policy applies to all employees, officers, consultants, self-employed contractors, casual workers, agency workers, volunteers and interns.

 Sustain's Dignity & Respect Code of Conduct
  Download 263kb PDF (updated June 2025)

Sustain's prevention of sexual harassment and action policy
  Download 263kb PDF (updated June 2025)

Sustain has a reporting form if you wish to make a report of sexual harassment or bullying. https://forms.office.com/e/L5TPuZu2KJ

You may also report incidents directly to Sustain's Head of Human Resources via email: humanresources@sustainweb.org 

Making a complaint 

 Sustain's policy and procedure for making a complaint
 Download 225kb PDF (updated July 2024)