Sustainability

Green Apple Events & Catering is continually working to reduce our carbon footprint on Earth.  Here are a few of the strategies that we have adopted to decrease our impact on the environment and our climate:

---

(1)     During our initial consultation with our clients, we encourage the use of china & silverware and discuss sustainable catering practices.

(2)     When china and silverware are not an option, we use responsible disposables – Bagasse Sugarcane Products.  These environmentally friendly disposables are made entirely from renewable sugarcane pulp, resulting in products that look and feel much like paper but are totally free of tree fiber and are biodegradable.

Creating Bagasse

When sugarcane pulp is salvaged and converted to a paper-like substance, it is called bagasse. To make bagasse, sugarcane stalks are broken down into pulp and fiber. Normally these sugarcane leftovers are burned, creating air pollution and contributing to greenhouse gases. Instead Bagasse Sugarcane Products are made.  

Features and Benefits of Bagasse

§  Tolerates heat up to 200°F

§  Made from a renewable resource: sugarcane

§  Paper-like consistency

§  Can typically be microwaved

§  Freezer safe

§  Allergen free

§  Biologically degrades in soil in 180 days

§  Composts in 45-60 days in a commercial composting facility

 

(3)     We are teaming up with Puget Sound Energy to install energy efficient, high performance, reduced wattage lighting & fixtures throughout Green Apple Events & Catering Offices, Tasting Room and Kitchen. We are also recycling our old fixtures & bulbs as outlined by the Federal Energy Consortium.

(4)     We RECYCLE our used vegetable oil by giving it to a BIO-DIESEL home-brewer. He uses it to produce Bio-diesel for his vehicles thereby turning our food waste products into a useful fuel and reducing the demand for petroleum fuel.

            A couple interesting facts about Bio-diesel:

§  Bio-diesel is biodegradable and non-toxic;

§  Recycling used vegetable oil does not compete with farmlands for food production;

§  Bio-diesel replaces the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with the pleasant smell of whatever was cooked in the oil before it was converted to Bio-diesel;

§  The use of Bio-diesel can extend the life of diesel engines because it is more lubricating than petroleum diesel;

§  Bio-diesel has similar properties to diesel fuel and can be used in any unmodified diesel engine;

§  Bio-diesel provides significant reductions in particulates and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere than petroleum dies

 

(5)     We use locally grown products, fruits & vegetables to reduce transporting emissions.

(6)     We purchase products from companies that do their part to reduce their carbon footprint on Earth.

(7)     Green Apple Events & Catering is a proud member of green scene – an organics composting program.  Since 1989, Cedar Grove Composting has diverted over 4 million tons of organic material from landfills, preventing 3.72 million metric tons (C02e) of greenhouse gas emissions- the equivalent of removing approximately 670,000 cars from the road. Cedar Grove takes valuable resources and converts them in to earth friendly compost used to replenish urban soils, minimize storm water run-off, conserve water and provide all-natural gardening solutions that minimize chemical usage and keep waterways healthy for salmon and other vital habitat communities.

(8)     We have trained our staff to compost both on-premise and off-site events. 

Stay tuned. This is an ongoing process. We are dedicated to staying up to date and continually adopting the best practices possible to reduce our carbon footprint on Earth!  ~Kris and Cheryl