Whitsons Culinary Group expands sustainability efforts through Taskforce Green Program
2024年5月8日 - 11:00PM
Whitsons Culinary Group®, a leading provider of dining services,
has reaffirmed its dedication to sustainability with its Taskforce
Green program. This initiative is designed to promote sustainable
practices in operations and communities, aiming to reduce the
carbon footprint across all locations served.
Whitsons has been at the forefront of sustainable efforts,
partnering with schools and other organizations to implement
impactful environmental initiatives. Recent endeavors include:
Composting and Recycling Programs:
- The school nutrition
team in Lexington Public Schools, MA, has spearheaded
sustainability efforts, composting 130 tons of food waste annually.
Through initiatives like Food Share and participation in the
NexTrex Recycling Challenge, they've recycled approximately 1,500
lbs. of plastic bags and film this school year.
- Inspired by
Lexington's success, other Whitsons locations, including those in
Easton Public Schools, MA, Fairfield Public Schools, CT, Oxford
Public Schools, CT, Newton Public Schools, MA, and Timberlane
Regional School District, NH, have collectively recycled more than
3300 lbs. of plastic bags and film through the NexTrex Challenge
during the 2023-24 school year, thus far.
Compost Partnerships:
- In Fairfield Public
Schools, CT, the school nutrition team has supported the district’s
partnership with Sustainable Fairfield, Fairfield PTA Council Green
Teams, and Sustainable CT to expand composting cafeteria and
kitchen waste in 11 school buildings. So far, 181,000 lbs. of food
waste have been diverted from landfill through composting, which
reduces emissions by the equivalent of 126,000 miles of
driving.
- In Everett Public
Schools, MA, the nutrition team has collaborated with Bootstrap
Compost through a partnership with the City of Everett to compost
9,185 lbs., or more than five tons of food waste, with the compost
being returned to local soils and donated to community gardens such
as Everett Community Growers.
- Whitsons supports a
school partnership with CERO for a compostable waste program in
Wellesley, MA, diverting over 7,500 lbs. of compostable waste in
February 2024 alone.
Reducing Food Waste:
- Through partnerships
with organizations like Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Whitsons
locations have redistributed excess food, preventing over 5,000
lbs. of emissions and serving almost 1,800 meals to those in
need.
Promoting Plant-Based Options:
- Whitsons ranked 6th
on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 2024 Protein
Sustainability Scorecard, reflecting its commitment to providing
plant-based options. Initiatives like the Veggabóls program have
resulted in increased plant-based offerings and significant
greenhouse gas savings.
Food Waste Diversion and Repurposing:
- Whitsons Prepared
Meals Division partners with Zutat Feed Solutions to repurpose
excess production of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches,
diverting over 1.6 million pounds of waste annually.
Coats for Communities:
- In its annual coat
drive, Whitsons provided warmth to people in need, while keeping
700+ gently used coats out of landfills.
Solar Eclipse Glasses Recycling:
- Whitsons' "Sharing
the Sun" initiative collects used solar eclipse glasses for
repurposing, supporting future eclipse events worldwide.
Sustainability Education:
- Whitsons' Corporate
Office met on Earth Day to learn more about everyday sustainable
practices around Reusing, Repurposing, and Reducing. The team
discussed best practices on reusable items such as water bottles,
food containers, bags, and green supplies, repurposing items
creatively in lieu of discarding, and reducing food waste through
the Food Recovery Hierarchy, understanding product labels, freezing
excess fresh food, and portioning during food preparation.
Paul Whitcomb, Whitsons’ President & CEO, commented: “I am
proud of the accomplishments of Whitsons team members throughout
the organization for their efforts in reducing waste and supporting
sustainability in their communities and reducing the company's
carbon footprint through everyday operations. These efforts
underscore Whitsons' commitment to sustainability and the company's
role as one of the original members of the U.S. Food Loss and Waste
2030 Champions.”
About Whitsons Culinary GroupWhitsons Culinary Group is a
leading provider of customized dining services to education,
healthcare, community markets, and specialty services in the
nation. With a steadfast commitment to delivering nutritious,
high-quality meals crafted from wholesome, fresh ingredients,
Whitsons’ mission is Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™. As a
NMSDC-certified, minority-owned company, we prioritize diversity
for our team members and valued customers. Since 1979, Whitsons has
upheld a legacy of excellence and consistent growth. Today, we are
at the forefront of the foodservice industry, setting new standards
with our dedication to wholesome food, family values, and
personalized service. To learn more about Whitsons, visit
www.whitsons.com or Facebook and LinkedIn.
Karen Dittrich
Whitsons Culinary Group
6318895286
dittrichk@whitsons.com