Five ways to make your business operations more sustainable
By Tara Milburn, founder and CEO of Ethical Swag
Social and corporate gatherings are re-emerging, out of the virtual sphere and back to in-person activity. With them, the need for catering and foodservice professionals is on a steady incline. But the return to those catering engagements comes with changed expectations. Specifically, the need for sustainable social, environmental and governance solutions is at an all-time high.
During the pandemic, many companies faced internal and external pressures to improve their environmental footprint by becoming more eco-friendly, and setting new, bigger sustainability goals. Those internal goals are being reflected in every decision they make, from how they bring their employees into a new normal to which companies they choose for their ongoing food and catering needs. The call for more sustainable living asks the complex but pressing question of how to treat the planet, and its people, in a respectful, restorative way. Following are five important focus areas for catering and foodservice professionals to consider in their journey to more sustainable operations.
- Moving People and Products
Behind the scenes, catering and foodservice professionals are busy with the logistics of transportation—from employees to supplies to event attendees, how does everything get from A to B (and, sometimes, back again)? Every part of that process, from supply packaging to delivery strategies to employee commuting, deserves consideration. One small step toward the reduction of emissions and waste will compound when the fix is applied over days, months and years of operations.
Finding a closer source is one way to reduce the need for items to be transported long distances. It’s important to investigate how suppliers transport their items, and whether other suppliers use more environmentally friendly methods. The same process can be used to find eco-friendly production and packaging options, both with the facilities themselves, and with the materials used in packaging and production. Catering professionals can determine which suppliers are using eco-friendly materials, reducing the ecological impact of their transport, and applying cleaner, greener initiatives at all levels of operation to move with them in the same direction. - Sustainable by Association
The road to environmental neutrality doesn’t have to be walked alone. Catering professionals can vet suppliers, farmers, business partners and logistics providers for the kinds of solutions they have in place. Part of a great sustainability strategy includes an effort to actively partner with other companies who are focusing on eco-friendly practices and people-first approaches.
Supporting famers who appropriately compensate their staff is non-negotiable. Sourcing food from local farmers who run environmentally conscious farms is another important step in the right direction. Next, crafting a menu that prioritizes ingredients that cause minimal depletion of natural resources will create a tangible improvement to the environmental footprint on an event-by-event basis. Associating with production companies that are actively reducing emissions, implementing greener office strategies and using more eco-friendly equipment are all important ways to bring sustainability to a business through thoughtful association - Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
The pandemic has resulted in a renewed focus on the need for improved working conditions in many sectors, including foodservice. Extending the idea of sustainability to company personnel is paramount. Ensuring that team members are empowered, adequately compensated, and given the benefits and support they deserve are a few key ways this can be achieved. Further, it’s important for employees to have autonomy whenever possible. Flexible scheduling and more frequent payments help team members manage their personal and professional lives. Just as a business should be surrounded by partners who are seeking similar sustainability goals, the company should be made up of employees and leaders who desire the same goals—and are willing to do the work to achieve them. - Little Things Are Big Things, Sustainably Speaking
Catering in an eco-friendly, sustainable manner can sometimes involve significant changes: implementing new supply chain systems or enacting new policies for improved employee support, for example. Sometimes, though, the smaller things can make just as big of a difference. Something simple like replacing place cards and wasteful centerpieces for tables can go a long way, both in terms of actual environmental impact, but also toward the need to communicate and demonstrate a sustainability commitment to clients and their attendees. Replacing client gifts and other event swag with items made from ethical, sustainably sourced and recyclable materials from socially responsible companies is another easy way to create a commitment to sustainability. From clothing to tech to utensils to wellness items and beyond, there are a plethora of options available to suit any need and purpose, while ensuring the item wasn’t made using harmful practices, and won’t end up in a landfill. - Don’t Forget to Talk the Talk
Implementing or enhancing sustainability initiatives is newsworthy and worth sharing. Clients are eager to hear about and support businesses who are actively embracing sustainable operations and practices. Communicating new initiatives and processes in newsletters and on social media channels is a solid way to get the message out to current and potential clients.
Presenting information in a way that’s easy to share is critical. Many companies will want to represent to partners or stakeholders how their choice in catering and foodservice vendors supports their sustainability goals.
While it’s important to consider and embrace more eco-friendly and sustainable practices across all aspects of business operations, it’s equally important to stagger investments and commit to a long-term approach. Budgets are still recovering, and most companies are carefully monitoring their spending. While increasing sustainability can certainly lead to improved margins in the long run, the journey can be considered a marathon, not a sprint. Any steps toward more sustainable business practices—from product to people to service—are steps in the right direction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Milburn is the founder and CEO of Ethical Swag, a sustainable branding company that makes it easy for hospitality brands to offer personalized promotional products that they can stand behind. Certified as a B Corporation, Ethical Swag has been audited to the highest global standard for sustainability. For more information, visit ethicalswag.com.
