Putting People and Health First in Agri-Food and Hospitality Businesses

The definition of value in development and sustainability is shifting. As governments embed social value into planning systems—from the UK’s Levelling Up agenda to Ireland’s National Planning Framework—businesses in agri-food and hospitality are under growing pressure to go beyond environmental metrics and demonstrate how they actively support community health, wellbeing, and equity.

Statistics show that consumers are willing to pay more for a product that is ethical and fair. A clear example is the global impact of the Fairtrade movement, which reports that 77% of UK consumers choose Fairtrade products over alternatives, generating £2.3 billion in the UK market in 2022.

For senior leaders, this isn’t just a regulatory trend; it’s a competitive advantage—leveraging fair and ethical operations to retain top talent, attract investors, and appeal to socially conscious consumers.

Investor, retailer, and public expectations are changing. Consumers increasingly ask:

- Does this brand contribute to local wellbeing?
- Are its supply chains fair and inclusive?
- Does its growth uplift or erode the places it operates in?

Your licence to operate is no longer just about emissions reductions or biodiversity offsets. It’s about demonstrating that your growth strengthens the fabric of local life.

Playing to the Strength of Your Social Value

Traditional environmental or planning assessments often overlook human and social dimensions, such as access to healthy food, fair employment, or the identity of local places.

For agri-food and hospitality businesses—organisations that work with people, for people—embedding Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) offers more than compliance:

Enhanced Planning Approvals and Community Support

Mitigate risks to community wellbeing and equity, leading to:
- Faster planning approvals from local authorities
- Stronger local buy-in and reduced opposition
- Better relationships with planners, regulators, and local stakeholders

Bolster Your ESG Performance and Reporting

These assessments support credible ESG disclosures by demonstrating tangible social and health outcomes and alignment with frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

- SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing: Promotes physical and mental health outcomes for workers, customers, and communities.
  - Agri-food: Reduces harmful inputs (e.g. pesticides), improves access to nutritious food.
  - Hospitality: Encourages safe, healthy environments for staff and guests.

- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for local economic participation.

- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Targets social and economic inclusion, especially for marginalised groups.
  - EqIA helps identify and mitigate disproportionate impacts on people with protected characteristics (e.g. age, disability, ethnicity).

- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Encourages inclusive, resilient communities.
  - Agri-food: Supports rural economies and local food systems.
  - Hospitality: Promotes culturally sensitive, locally rooted experiences.

Improved Brand Trust and Reputation

Showing care for people—not just profit—builds deeper customer and partner loyalty.

- 90% of consumers are more likely to trust and remain loyal to businesses that demonstrate social responsibility (Procurement Tactics, 2024).

- Retailers and investors assess supply chain impacts on people, not just carbon.

- Certifications like B Corp and EcoVadis reward meaningful alignment with social responsibility.

Stronger Workforce Engagement and Talent Attraction

In a labour-constrained industry:
- HIA supports employee health, safety, and wellbeing, improving retention.
- EqIA ensures fair treatment and inclusive practices, boosting morale.
- Helps attract purpose-driven, ethical employees.

Better Risk Management

HIA and EqIA help anticipate and mitigate often-overlooked risks:
- Health-related risks (e.g. pollution, poor working conditions)
- Legal and reputational issues from unequal or unfair practices
- Community opposition due to lack of inclusion or transparency

Business Resilience and Local Value Creation

- HIA ensures your operations support healthy food systems and ecosystems.
- EqIA promotes equitable access to economic opportunities, strengthening community ties.
- These approaches embed your business in the social and economic fabric of the areas you operate in.

What Does ‘Social Responsibility’ Look Like in Agri-Food and Hospitality?

In these sectors, "elevating people" in impact assessments means looking beyond carbon, profit, and biodiversity to ask:

Are we supporting healthy communities?

- Agri-food: Not just about producing food, but about nutritional value, food safety, and community health outcomes. E.g. regenerative agriculture or reducing chemical inputs supports healthier diets and ecosystems.
- Hospitality: Menus, sourcing, and operations influence guest and staff wellbeing—from healthier meals to supportive work environments.

Are we strengthening local identity and economic resilience?

- Agri-food: Farms are central to rural communities. Preserving soil, supporting local economies, and rural identity matters.
- Hospitality: Hotels and restaurants serve as community hubs—showcasing local culture, supporting local suppliers, and enhancing pride of place.

Are we creating fair and inclusive opportunities throughout our value chain?

- Agri-food: Fair treatment of farmworkers, transparent supply chains, and equitable access to food systems.
- Hospitality: Inclusive hiring, fair labour practices, and community engagement that benefits a broad range of stakeholders.

Actionable Recommendations

For decision-makers ready to take the next step:

1. Widen Your Lens

- Move beyond environmental impacts to include social and health criteria.
- Focus on indicators such as: jobs created, staff wellbeing, living wage status, access to green space, supplier diversity, and supply chain transparency.

2. Initiate Assessments Early

- Embed HIA and EqIA at the concept or design stage—not as a tick-box at the end.
- Early action prevents issues later and builds trust.

3. Engage Stakeholders Meaningfully

- Consult local workers, residents, suppliers, and community groups.
- This isn’t just PR—it results in stronger, more resilient decision-making.

4. Use Established Tools

- Apply frameworks like the WELL Community Standard, Healthy Places Index, and UN SDGs.
- Align with local authority checklists where relevant.

5. Report with Purpose

- Disclose social impacts in ESG and planning reports with the same rigour as environmental metrics.
- Use plain language and local relevance: what mattered to the community, and what did you do?

The Bigger Picture

Businesses that centre people in their impact assessments don’t just reduce risk—they unlock strategic advantage. From faster planning and stronger stakeholder support to talent retention and reputational gains, the return on investment is clear.

For agri-food and hospitality leaders, this is a chance to redefine what good business looks like. Sustainability is not just about decarbonisation—it’s about stewardship of people, place, and purpose. When you build with care, you build impact that lasts.

If you’d like to learn more about Health Impact Assessments, Equality Impact Assessments, or how ESG Made Easy can support your business, email steph@esgmadeeasy.co.uk or connect with us on social media.