If you have any questions about our donation process or our going green initiative, feel free to contact Jenny Johnston in our admin department!

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Straw Dispenser, image courtesy of Vollrath

Reduce

There are many ways to reduce waste in restaurants.  It could be as simple as making straws optional rather than laying them on the table to languish in food splatter and never be used, but must be thrown away.  Instead operators could look into getting a Vollrath straw dispenser to allow customers to choose if they want a straw.

To reduce energy consumption look at your kitchen’s equipment; as it may be time to either upgrade or replace it.  There are many things you should know before going green. Do some research on either an energy efficient option, or possibly something that better accommodates your usage.  Figure out what works best for your kitchen before you just buy the recommended equipment by the equipment company.  Remember, reducing energy isn’t only about Energy Star labels but rather labels but how the equipment is being used.

Restaurant managers could look at consolidating deliveries or purchasing products from a local and sustainable farm.  Consolidating deliveries will lower the business’s carbon footprint or make a kitchen more efficient with less time needed to unload and restock constantly.  A bonus is purchasing from local farms can give the restaurant a new edge in the farm-to-table trend.  However, each restaurant operator must do their research to make sure the farm’s values align with the business’s values.  For instance, if the farm uses pesticides that hurt bees and the restaurant is focused on no animal cruelty, it might be a little amiss to use that farm’s products.

Reuse

Earth Day is a great day to announce that your restaurant is moving away from disposable dishware and utensils to washable dishware and flatware.  Even some fast food restaurant chains are moving to using dishes and utensils, like Café Yumm!®.  It will take a little more time on the dishwasher’s end but it could also save money on purchasing disposable plates and utensils constantly.

Image courtesy of Torani

If you have broken dishes or product that is empty we have a few ideas from Pinterest and beyond that could take old bottles and cups to a new decorative level.  In Recycle! Alternative Uses for Product & Packaging we talk about options like making birdfeeders from used Torani® bottles, Libbey® wine glass candle holders, and jar lamps.  If any of your broken dishware is colorful it could be used as part of a mosaic for your walls or a new art piece.

Have you thought about reusing your food?  Yes, many of you just fainted with shock because of issues with the health department but I promise that isn’t the angle.  Does your business have too much food and won’t use or ship it all this week?  It may be time to talk to a non-profit or soup kitchen in your area to see if rather than throwing out your food you could donate it to them.  There are many options for donating to charity, so talk with your local charities to see how you can help. Remember this is something that not only helps keep the world clean but can possibly be deducted from you taxes.

Recycle

Recycle is the go-to idea whenever the topic of being eco-friendly comes around.  Yes, you could create a compost pile but there are many other options that restaurants have. For instance, make sure the products your restaurant purchases are either made from recycled material, or are compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable.

For those who just can’t shake using disposable dishware and utensils, WNA has utensils line EarthSense™ made from a product of corn and other vegetables that is compostable.  If you still need that Java Jacket® for your coffee then you can pick up a set made from recycled paper.  To clean up your act you could look at Zephyr’s SorbUp™ Mop Heads that are made of 100% recycled material.  Even the whipped cream chargers from iSi North America are made of 100% recycled steel.

Finally, maybe it is time that you look through your trash to see what is recyclable.  There could be glass or plastic bottles from Torani that can be put in the right bin.  It may be time to remind serving staff that if napkins were only used to clean up only a water spill they are still recyclable. Also remember that your fluorescent bulbs and old equipment may be recyclable as well; just check with your local electric utility office.

Ready for Earth Day?

There are so many ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.  Your restaurant or warehouse could make a few modifications to brag about on Earth Day.  But remember as ideas like eco-friendly and sustainability become more expected than trendy, it may be time to look and see if your business practices and values need updating too.

Call Houston’s today to see how our products can fit into your new environmental and sustainability plans.

The post Help the Planet and your Business appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Torani birdfeeder. Photo courtesy of Torani.

Plastic Bottle Birdfeeder

Wondering what to do with those empty plastic bottles once all of that tasty syrup is used up?  Torani has come up with an easy way to feed the birds.  You’ll need an empty and clean 750ml Torani plastic bottle, a drill, a wooden dowel, a blade, twine, and of course birdseed.

Start by using the drill to make two holes, on opposite sides of each other, towards the bottom of the bottle.  Do the same through the neck towards the top of the bottle.  Then use the blade to cut openings above each of the bottom holes.  This will be where the birds will access the seeds, so make them an appropriate size.  Put the wooden dowel through the two smaller bottom holes for a perch.  Next feed the twine through the two holes at the top of the bottle and knot the ends together to make a hanger.  Finally, fill the bottle with birdseed, hang it outside, and enjoy watching all of the birds that will come!

See more about this project here: Torani Bottle Birdfeeder

Wine Glass Candle Holders

Sometimes you have more glasses than you’re going to use at once.  Or maybe you’ve gotten new glassware and haven’t quite figured out what you will be doing with the old yet.  In any case, those glasses can be turned into great centerpieces and decorations in the snap of a finger.  Libbey wine glasses can turn your dull tables into elegant works of art.  Simply flip the glass over and place a tea light or votive on top.  Also try filling the bowl with your favorite décor such as bulb ornaments or a sprig of holly for the holidays.

Tea Dyeing and Staining

Tea is great on its own, but did you know that it can also be used for dyeing and staining?  Anything from table linens and cloth napkins, to shirts, curtains, and eggs can be dyed!  One of the great things about using tea is that it’s all natural.  Bigelow Tea provides a few great tips to help with the process.  It’s as simple as soaking your item in brewed tea, rinsing, then setting the dye with a mixture of vinegar, water, and salt.  Try experimenting with different flavors of tea to produce different colors.   Or bring new life to your wood tables with a light tea stain.  A few bits of steel in the form of steel wool, nails, etc., along with vinegar, and brewed tea will get you started.  Learn more with these easy instructions: Tea Staining.

Tin can vase. Photo courtesy of Dole Packaged Foods.

Tin Can Vase

Those tin cans from your canned goods?  Don’t toss them just yet.  Dole Packaged Foods has come up with a great and simple way to put them to use.  Once they are cleaned and label removed, use them as a vase or as part of a center piece.  It’s an easy way to add in a trendy metal element to your décor and leave your guests impressed.

Jar Lamp     

If you’ve been serving up plenty of Bloody Marys and antipasto platters, you likely have at least a few empty Borges USA/Pacific Choice green bean or olive glass jars laying around.  Luckily, these jars can be made into a beautiful lamp that can add great character to your space.  For inspiration, check out these jar lights here. Grab your jars and a few Edison bulbs and let the light shine through!

What are some of your creative ideas for recycling and upcycling? We’d love to hear!

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