The Coolfood Pledge Just Got Better: New Tools to Measure Climate, Health, and Sustainability

Over the past several years, the Coolfood Pledge has helped health care (and other sector) organizations measure and reduce the climate impact of the food they serve. By tracking food purchasing data and setting science-based targets, participants have demonstrated that healthier, lower-carbon menus are possible at scale.

As our understanding of sustainable food systems continues to evolve, so does the Coolfood Pledge.

The Nourish team is excited to share several enhancements that make the program even more valuable for participating organizations. These updates expand what we measure, strengthen the science behind our reporting, and provide a clearer roadmap for the years ahead.

The most significant enhancement is the introduction of a new greenhouse gas reduction target. New organizations joining the Coolfood Pledge will now work toward a 30% reduction in food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, using 2025 as their baseline year.

Why the change? As we move closer to 2030, it no longer provides enough time for new organizations to establish and achieve meaningful long-term targets. Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance recommends organizations set targets five to ten years into the future, making 2035 a more practical and scientifically aligned timeframe. The new target also reflects the latest climate science and international guidance, while continuing to support steady, achievable progress.

For current signatories: if you joined the Coolfood Pledge before 2026, you can continue working toward your existing 25% reduction by 2030 target. If you’d prefer to transition to the new 2035 target, we’d be happy to help; just reach out to the Nourish team.

Climate is only one measure of environmental sustainability.

Updated Coolfood reports now include blue water and green water footprints, giving organizations a broader understanding of how their food purchasing impacts natural resources. Blue water represents surface and groundwater used for irrigation, while green water represents rainwater stored naturally in soil.

These new metrics help organizations identify which food purchases contribute most to water use, alongside greenhouse gas emissions.

In general, shifting toward more plant-forward menus reduces both carbon emissions and water use. As with any environmental measure, there are exceptions: some individual foods, such as certain nuts, can have higher water footprints than other ingredients.

Overall, however, plant-forward purchasing patterns continue to deliver vital environmental benefits.

One of the most exciting enhancements is the addition of health-focused reporting.

Updated Coolfood reports now include indicators that track the share of food purchases coming from legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. These foods are associated with healthy dietary patterns and play an important role in creating menus that support both people and the planet.

For healthcare organizations, this represents an important evolution. It allows participants to demonstrate not only that they are reducing environmental impacts, but also that their purchasing decisions are supporting healthier food environments for patients, staff, and visitors. Like we always say: people and the planet.

The Coolfood reporting methodology has also been updated to reflect the latest scientific guidance. The calculator now uses more regionally specific emissions factors and aligns with current international greenhouse gas accounting standards.

For most organizations, this won’t result in major changes to their reported emissions, but it does make calculations more accurate and better reflects North American food production systems. As a result, some historical emissions values may shift slightly as reports are updated using the improved methodology.

Together, these enhancements make the Coolfood Pledge more comprehensive than ever before.

Whether you’ve been part of the Coolfood journey for years or are just beginning to explore sustainable food procurement, we look forward to supporting the next chapter together.

Interested in learning more? Join us for Reducing Food’s Footprint: A Coolfood Information Webinar on July 22, 2026.

The Coolfood program is included in Organizational Membership to the Nourish Commons. Nourish is proud to partner with World Resources Institute to bring the Coolfood Pledge to health care in Canada.