Why Go Green?
”Going green” is not a trend; it’s a smart way of doing business. Business owners are finding that going “green” makes a statement to their customers on their business philosophy. It demonstrates not only that they care about the environment, but also that they are taking practical measures to be responsible with our natural resources. This movement is growing. Nationally there are around 100 cities that have formally banned the use of Styrofoam or polystyrene food packaging. More and more cities are requiring restaurants and institutions to switch to biodegradable food containers.
Reasons…
- Customers are expecting it
- Cities are requiring it
- Progressive business owners are leading the way
- The environment needs it
Customer are expecting it
According to Worldwide Institute “Association research shows that 62 percent of consumers say they are likely to choose a restaurant based on its environmental friendliness, and nearly one-third of restaurant operators plan to allocate a larger part of their budget to such efforts this year.” (1)
“One third of consumers agree or strongly agree with the statement, “Living a ‘green’ lifestyle is important to me and my family.” Agreement is highest among baby boomers (ages 40 to 60).” according to Restaurant and Institutions research.
Benefits
- Widen your customer base – Customers are increasingly buying from “green” businesses desiring to minimize their environmental footprint.
- Get the Halo Effect – There is goodwill created with customers and employees for proactively being environmentally conscious.
- Deepen customer loyalty – Identify with your customers on common principals of social responsibility.
City are requiring it
- City of San Francisco banned use of plastic bags by supermarkets, drug stores and other large retailers
- Around 100 cities have banned the use of styrofoam containers including
San Francisco, CA
Oakland, CA
Berkeley, CA
Portland, OR
and many more - Oakland enforces the ban on styrofoam use with fines ranging from $100 to $500 for food vendors who violate the measure
Progressive Businesses are leading the way
According to Restaurant and Institution survey, 45.3% of restaurants surveyed expressed that using biodegradable cutlery, napkins, cups and takeout packages was Extremely Important to them.
- There are low impact and cost-effective ways to “go green”
- Demonstrate your business and environmental philosophy
- Make the impression NOW that you are leading the way. “Going green” is becoming part of the American consumer psyche.
- Opportunity to show you are in-tune with customer desires for environmental responsibility
- Create greater customer loyalty through aligned philosophies
- Attract new pool of customers looking for environmentally conscious businesses
- Comply with City regulations
The environment needs it…
Each year Americans throw away 25 Billion Styrofoam products, much is generated by the Food Services Industry. These Styrofoam items can take up to 500 years to fully disintegrate (3). Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic bags annually and only 0.6 percent of them are recycled (2).
Time it takes for garbage to decompose in the environment: (4)
| Glass Bottle | 1 million years |
| Monofilament Fishing Line | 600 years |
| Plastic Beverage Bottles | 450 years |
| Disposable Diapers | 450 years |
| Aluminum Can | 80-200 years |
| Foamed Plastic Buoy | 80 years |
| Foamed Plastic Cups | 50 years |
| Tin Cans | 50 years |
| Leather | 50 years |
| Nylon Fabric | 30-40 years |
| Plastic Film Container | 20-30 years |
| Plastic Bag | 10-20 years |
| Cigarette Butt | 1-5 years |
| Plywood | 1-3 years |
| Waxed Milk Carton | 3 months |
| Newspaper | 6 weeks |
| Orange or Banana Peel | 2-5 weeks |
| Paper Towel | 2-4 weeks |
(1) Worldwide Institute
(2) Hampton County South Carolina
(3) U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL.
(4) National Restaurant Association
