Does the LEED program give points to food businesses for using environmentally preferable sourcing for their food service and catering functions?
• Yes. Building owners and managers can now gain credit towards LEED certification by using sustainably harvested foods certified by pre-approved organizations including USDA Certified Organic, Food Alliance Certified, Protected Harvest Certified, The Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and the Marine Stewardship Council’s Blue Eco Label, and/or by acquiring food from within a 100-mile radius for food service and catering functions at the building. To achieve this credit, 25 percent of all food and beverages must meet one or more of these sustainability criteria. Double points are awarded if the food is both certified and locally harvested.
