SFCI in ACTION Mode

The Sustainable Food Court Initiative, an Elemental Impact Task Force in partnership with the National Restaurant Association, is in ACTION mode! 


In June the first SFCI Pilot at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was announced.  On October 31 Michael Cheyne, Atlanta Airport Director of Asset Management and Sustainability, accepted a 2011 Going Green Airport Award for the SFCI Pilot.  See the June ZWZ Blog post, Atlanta Airport - First SFCI Pilot, for the pilot announcement and the October post, Atlanta Airport SFCI Pilot Wins National Award, for details on the award.

Ei Chair Scott Seydel, Holly & Chris
with the Going Green Airport Award

A Pilot ACTION Committee is formed with three subcommittees:  Baseline & Metrics Reporting, Sustainable Packaging and Front-of-the-House Recycling Bins.  The baseline is determined for Concourse T, the first airport food court to participate in the pilot.  An informational packet on compostable packaging is in process to give to airport concessionaires.  Once complete the package will be available on-line for download on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Ei websites.


In addition CleanRiver is spearheading an overall SFCI Communication committee with initial focus on building Ei website content for segue into a separate SFCI site. The  urls, www.sustainablefoodcourtinitiative.org .com & .net are secured.  Communicating SFCI progress and success through blog posts, social media networks and other mediums are on the committee agenda.


Additional pilots|projects are under exploration in Charlotte, Atlanta and the D.C. area with announcements anticipated in first quarter 2012.  SFCI efforts go beyond pilots with projects planned for the Tampa and Charlotte Airports where HMSHost has the concessionaire contracts.

Hilex Poly Tour End

SFCI impact extends to the entire pilot facility.  Simon Property Group, Hilex Poly and Ei are exploring a plastic film recycling pilot at Concord Mills in Charlotte. See the ZWZ Blog post, Simon Property Group Embarks on Zero Waste Initiatives, where malls are experiencing a tremendous increase in plastic film generated due to retail clothing packaged individually in clean, virgin plastic film.  The ZWZ Blog post, Getting a Handle on Plastic Film Recycling, gives an overview of Simon's tour of the Hilex Poly recycling plant in N. Vernon, IN.  The basic education is in place for movement into a pilot project.


A powerful SFCI Team is working together on the hows of bringing zero waste initiatives to food court operations.  The Team includes:

Co-Chairs:

o   Chris Moyer, NRA ConSERVE Program Director

o   Doug Kunnemann, NatureWorks Business Segment Director

Adminstrator:

o   Susan Montgomery, Elemental Impact

Trade Associations/Non-Profits:

• Elemental Impact
• Foodservice Packaging Institute
• National Restaurant Association
• Institute for Local Self Reliance

Industry Suppliers:

• Asean/StalkMarket
• Clean River
• MeadWestvaco
• NatureWorks
• Solo Cup Company
• Tomra

Foodservice Operators:

• HMSHost

Property Owners|Managers:

• Simon Property Group

Those interested in joining may contact Holly Elmore, Ei Founder.  Note minimum Ei Gold Sponsor status is required to join the SFCI Team.  Quarterly SFCI update calls are open to any interested parties.  Please contact Holly to be included on the distribution list.

A common phrase during SFCI working sessions is "if it was easy, it would already be done".  It  takes optimism, innovation and perseverance to break through the boundaries of what at times seems impossible.  Kudos to the phenomenal SFCI Team for taking on an extraordinary challenge. 

Innovation Key to Zero Waste Packaging

BPI Certified = Compostable

With zero waste initiatives becoming common place across the nation, the foodservice packaging industry is striving to develop packaging options that fit three requirements: 1> 100% recyclable or compostable 2> effective for their intended use 3> cost neutral.  In the last five years the first two requirements are met by a wide array of products.  Increased demand will bring prices in alignment with traditional packaging choices due to savings inherent within quantity of scale manufacturing.


The major strides in packaging choices are the result of industry leaders embracing product innovation and staying ahead of the demand curve.  Along with the largest packaging companies, a new leadership is emerging from smaller companies filling the compostable packaging niche.  Asean, the holding company for StalkMarket, Planet+ and Jaya products, is one of the smaller companies leading the innovation charge as a recognized industry leader.

Buzz accepting his award

In November, Buzz Chandler, Asean President, accepted a Sustainable Business Oregon  Innovation Award as a finalist in the Product Category. Twice a year, SBO honors organizations that are innovating new ways to implement sustainable practices as part of a successful business strategy. These recipients are worthy of attention for their contributions to Oregon's sustainable economy, as well as their work to better integrate economic, environmental and social benefits.  The SBO article, StalkMarket rising fast on sugar cane, has more details on the award.


In addition to product innovation, Buzz shares his expertise as a Sustainable Food Court Initiative Team Member and an active POWER - Perishable Organics Waste to Energy Recycling - participant.  As a Biodegrable Products Institute Board Member, Buzz is a wealth of information on industry standards and certification.

marquee @ green game

The Portland Rose Garden stadium called on Buzz's expertise when ready to shift to compostable packaging for their foodservice operations throughout the facility.  Along with Doug Kunnemann of NatureWorks, Buzz worked closely with stadium management to develop an effective program for their 2010 Green Game launch.  


Prior to initiating zero waste efforts, the Portland stadium filled two 40 yard compactors every 1 to 1.5 event days for landfill destination.  With strong recycling and organics collection systems in place, the stadium now fills ONE 40 yard compactor every 4.5 to 5 game days.  The zero waste practices saved the stadium significant dollars by eliminating a good portion of their landfill hauling and tipping charges.


Industry leaders working closely with communities and operators is essential to develop the emerging sustainable paradigm. It is an honor to include Buzz as an active Ei Sponsor and SFCI Team Member.  

ZWZ Blog Tops 25,000 Page Views

It is amazing to witness the escalation in ZWZ Blog readership.  Sometime just after midnight, the ZWZ Blog topped 25,000 page views!!!!!


On September 18, the ZWZ Blog hit the 20,000 page view milestone.  Only 65 days later the 25,000 page view bench mark was surpassed.


At the Elemental Impact Annual Sponsor & Advisory Council Meeting (see the IMPACT Blog post, 2011:  An Amazing Year, for meeting details) the importance of the ZWZ & IMPACT Blogs along with social media networks were discussed as powerful communication tools. Ei Sponsors are committed to using their networks to promote increased blog awareness and readership.


With the completion of our second year, Ei | ZWZ hit a sustainable stride for major ACTION!  Stay tuned to the blogs for tales from the journey.

The Many Faces of Zero Waste

Waste is not only defined as items hauled off to landfills - waste comes with many faces including delicious edible food left to rot on untended urban trees.  Concrete Jungle comes to the rescue with their unique urban foraging mission.

The force underlying Concrete Jungle

Founded by Craig Durkin and Aubrey Daniels in 2009, Concrete Jungle explores Atlanta to find fruit bearing trees on public and private land and coordinates volunteers who harvest the fruit for donation to homeless shelters. To date, Concrete Jungle has cataloged over 1000 fruit bearing trees and donated 6,000+ pounds of local bounty to homeless shelters.


From over 800 world wide applicants, Concrete Jungle was awarded the November Awesome Food $1,000 micro-grant.   Awesome Food, a chapter of the Awesome Foundation, made its first monthly micro-grant award in October.

“We picked Concrete Jungle because of what they’ve picked as their expertise — finding uses for fruit across Atlanta that otherwise would go to waste,” said Micki Maynard, creator of CulinaryWoman and an Awesome Food trustee. “At every step, this awesome project is helping someone or something. It aids the environment, by keeping the trees bountiful and healthy. It helps community groups with its donations of fruit, and allows them to do their work helping the hungry.”

Fruits are inspected and cleaned
before donation

The grant will be used for an eclectic set of tools to make fruit picking easier and more fun: bow and arrows to get ropes over high branches; sticks made by Nerf to hit fruit down from high places; inflatable pool rafts to cushion produce that falls from up high; a baby pool for people to sit in while they scrub apples; and hard hats to protect from falling fruit.

In addition, with leftover money, the group hopes to buy mini-apple grinders and juicers to make cider from apples that cannot be eaten whole.

Mercy Community Church is a fortunate recipient of Concrete Jungles's foraging program and received over 500 pounds of delicious fruit this year alone.

“What Concrete Jungle offers us is truly unique,” says Mercy Community Church Pastor Maggie Leonard. “They have figured out a simple, seemingly obvious, means of addressing the problem of hunger that plagues our city.  While most of our donations come from the waste of others, Concrete Jungle offers us delicious, fresh fruit that is fit to be eaten by anyone.”

Map of a golf course in Helen, GA who requested
Concrete Jungle to harvest the apples from their trees

Inherent within Maggie's statement is the dignity that comes along with the Concrete Jungle's mission - community coming together to help their fellow beings by harvesting urban fruit and donating it with love and care to those in a current less fortunate state.  How inspiring!

The Awesome Food blog post, Concrete Jungle, Atlanta urban fruit picking group, receives Awesome Food's November grant, gives details on the integrity of Concrete Jungle's harvesting, cleaning and donation program.


In the July, 2010 IMPACT Blog post, Urban Foraging: Taking Local & Sustainable to New Dimensions, honored Concrete Jungle as the July IMPACTOR for the same reasons Awesome Foods awarded the grant.


Organizations like Concrete Jungle are widening our perception of the local, healthy food in the midst of us everyday. It is also a reminder,food shortage is not the issue; equitable food distribution is the reason many go to sleep hungry and suffer from malnutrition. 


Thank you Awesome Food for your vision and commitment to assist those who are making important and unique contributions to humanity.

Ei Partners with ILSR

One of the keys to Elemental Impact's success is collaboration with government, trade associations, non-profits and private enterprise.  The Institute for Local Self Reliance recently announced the Ei | ILSR partnership on their Waste to Wealth page.


For the past year, Ei worked closely with Neil Seldman, ILSR President,  in conjunction with the City of Atlanta Office of Sustainability zero waste study project.  In October Ei entered into its first joint consulting agreement with ILSR for zero waste work on a local project.

Neil & Brenda

Neil Seldman is an active Ei Advisory Council member where he shares his depth of industry experience.  Brenda Platt, ILSR Co-Director, is an invaluable asset on the Sustainable Food Court Initiative ACTION Team with her amazing expertise in composting and compostable packaging.  This summer Brenda turned around a Compostable Packaging FAQ in 24 hours when the request came from the Atlanta Airport.


It is an honor to formalize the working relationship with the ILSR.  As a 30+ year organization, the ILSR brings strong national relationships and in-depth industry expertise to Ei's action-oriented programs.  The synergies are fantastic and the stage is set to accomplish important work in the zero waste arena.


Thank you Neil & Brenda for your openness and commitment to making a difference.

A Common ZWZ Refrain: It's EASY

Atlanta's Charter Zero Waste Zones Participants share a common message:  zero waste practices are EASY, a no-brainer!   


Atlanta ZWZ Experience Summary:  Source-separating food residuals and recyclables is a matter of learning new work habits and purchasing (or re-purposing existing) bins. Overall, employees are eager to do their part in diverting valuable materials from landfills and back into the manufacturing process.

The Nation's Restaurant News Oct 24 Insight article Atlanta operators reduce waste written by National Restaurant Association Sr. Editor Elissa Elan gives an excellent synopsis of how easy the Atlanta pioneers found zero waste practices.  For a downloadable version of the article, visit the ZWZ National Media page.  


Here are a couple of quotes from the article:

Patrick Cuccaro & Steve Simon
chatting @ ZWZ Two-Yr  Press Event

"We've got 30 -50 employees per store, and I'd say it took two weeks of active engagement.  Then it was second nature." Steve Simon, Fifth Group Restaurants Partner

"The typical mentality is that waste goes into trash, but we started with very basic steps, like recycling.  That took about a week, and then we moved onto composting.  We thought the employees would think of this as an extra step that would make their jobs (tougher), but in fact, they knew more than we did."  Paul Baldasaro, COO Buckhead Life Group

Ecco, fifth group restaurant - no more
trash dumpster, only collection bins!

The article includes copy on Affairs to Remember's ZWZ program.  In addition to "easy", Patrick Cuccaro, ATR GM, mentions receiving heightened employee morale as an added-value - their 200+ employees were ready, willing and enthusiastic to embrace zero waste practices.


Keys to implementation ease are twofold:  1> take baby steps and 2> develop clear educational programs & signage.  Choosing recycling vendors who are partners with employee training programs and communication tools is common ground at successful programs.


The NRA ConSERVE Solutions for Sustainability, Elemental Impact's ZWZ partner, is devoting resources for an educational platform on zero waste practices that will serve as a valuable industry tool.  With the NRA's support, keeping the "It's EASY" refrain will remain a consistent experience as the ZWZ embark upon national expansion.  Stay tuned!

An Encore ZWZ Performance

The SC ZWZ Tour Group @ Greenco

In August the SC Hospitality Association came to Atlanta for an exploratory tour of Zero Waste Zones, an Elemental Impact program in partnership with the National Restaurant Association, to learn from the ZWZ Heroes on how organics & materials recycling are implemented into foodservice operations. SUCCESS - the SC operators were inspired by their Atlanta counterpart's consistent message: zero waste initiatives were easy AND employees were many times the drivers moving the program forward.

See the ZWZ Blog posts, ATL ZWZ Team Hosts SC Hospitality Tour and  Sustainability = Sharing, for details of the August tour along with related NRA press coverage.

With the SC operators on-board, the SCHA came to Atlanta in November for a second tour focused on the destination of the food scraps source-separated for composting by foodservice establishments.  The November contingent consisted of trade association|non-profit executives, city & state officials along with two Columbia hotel associates. From Atlanta, EPA Region IV and GA Department of Natural Resources Sustainability Division staff joined the tour and meetings to share their experiences in the ZWZ program development.

food processing scraps ready
for composting

Chris Moyer, NRA ConServe Program Director, and Elissa Elan, NRA Sr. Editor - Sustainability, joined the two-day tour showing the NRA's enthusiastic support of the ZWZ national expansion through the state restaurant association network.  The NRA plans to work closely with the SCHA as the ZWZ expansion path is built.  Sue Hensley, NRA Sr. VP Public Affairs Communications, attended the August tour. 

Day One of the tour started in Barnesville at Greenco Environmental's windrow composting operation.  Tim Lesko, Greenco co-owner, was most gracious with his time as he explained the permitting process and the challenges Greenco overcame to open their composting facility.  While Tim gave his overview two trucks filled with food residuals arrived to deposit the nitrogen-rich material.  It was educational to witness the vast difference between the pre-consumer and post-consumer loads.

Latex gloves, a common contaminant

While walking the windrows, the group was well-educated  on the contamination impact from foodservice operations.  The two main contaminants:  stainless steel and silver flatware and latex gloves used in kitchens.  For pre-consumer and grocery loads, a pesky contaminant is the small  identification sticker on produce.  The labels often get small enough to flow through the sifting screens into the finished compost.

After the compost site tour, the group traveled to La Tavola, a Fifth Group restaurant located in the heart of Virginia-Highlands.  GM Chris Dean greeted the group with a wonderful array of cured meats, cheeses and olives to enjoy as they listened to Steve Simon, Fifth Group partner, share his ZWZ experiences.  Working with landlords in mulit-tenant locations with limited space was a focus of Steve's talk.

Leonard @ the Sheraton's
water recycling system

Once again the Sheraton Downtown Atlanta served as the tour host hotel.  Thank you Niles Harris, Sheraton GM, for your generous spirit.

Day Two began with a thorough back-of-the-house tour of the Sheraton by Leonard McCoy, Director of Engineering, and Daniel Senden, Director of Sales & Marketing.  Taking their zero waste commitment seriously, the Sheraton completely eliminated polystyrene use at the hotel, even in the employee cafeteria.  Beyond zero waste, the SC group learned about the Sheraton's saline pool, electrical vehicle charging stations, impressive water recycling system for their laundry service, window glass replacement projects and the amazing number of trees on the hotel's property.

For additional details on the Sheraton's sustainability commitment read the IMPACT Blog post, Sheraton Atlanta POWERS New Energy & Identity, and the ZWZ Blog post, Charter ZWZ Participant Tours. 

Tim Trefzer sharing with the group

Later in the morning Tim Trefzer, Georgia World Congress Center Authority Sustainability Manager, educated the group on the recycling strides taken at the GWCC & the GA Dome over the past several years.  Tim was candid about challenges and the impact the respective convention customers have on the facility's ability to maximize landfill diversion.  The trend is towards active partnership between convention decision makers and the GWCC.  Read the ZWZ Blog post, GWCC Hits Recycling Stride, for impressive reuse and recycling stats when a convention works in unison with the GWCC.

The above referenced ZWZ Blog post on ZWZ Participant tours also includes an overview of a GWCC fall visit.  For pictorial recaps of the Sheraton & GWCC tours, see the Ei FB album, Fall, 2011 ZWZ Participant Tours.

A full-house during for the morning
presentations

Jay Bassett with the U.S. EPA Region IV, along with team members Mary Beth Van Pelt & Thornell Cheeks, led an enthusiastic session on the the next steps necessary to bring zero waste initiatives to SC.  Emphasizing the importance of collaborative effort, Jay noted the SCHA has most of the important players at the table.

Lunch at Cafe Jonah was the last stop before the group returned to Columbia.  Jessica Hanners and Eric Miller shared how they made zero waste practices work in older buildings with limited space.  Souper Jenny, an affiliated restaurant around the corner, is one of the ZWZ-Buckhead Charter Participants.

Eric & Jessica 

For the tour pictorial recap, visit the Ei FB albums, DAY 1 - SC Hospitality 2nd ATL ZWZ Tour and DAY 2 - SC Hospitality 2nd ATL ZWZ Tour.

Trip success was evident by Douglas OFlaherty's , SCHA Director of Operations, immediate follow-up e-mail scheduling the conference call to discuss an ACTION plan. Stay tuned for updates as the SCHA understands sustainable practices are important to solid business models.