Sustainable Catering

Beyond Recycling 

Greening your business is about using resources intelligently and creatively. Doing so can create a better work environment for your employees and help you provide better services to your customers.

This brief checklist of ideas will help your business conserve energy, water, time and natural resources. Contact the organizations listed below for more information, or ask a Recycle at Work Recycling Specialist at 503.823.7037.

Buy green power

1. PGE and Pacific Power offer the option to purchase renewable energy. A phone call to PGE at 503.228.6322 or Pacific Power at 1.888.221.7070 is all it takes to make the switch.  

Drive less, drive smart

For free assistance implementing the suggestions below, or for information on tax incentives available to your business, contact Dan Bower from the Portland Office of Transportation at 503.823.5667.

1. Support employee use of public transit. Contact TriMet at 503.962.7670 or tri-met.org to learn more about their Commute Options Program.  
2. Organize a carpool. Contact TriMet or visit www.carpoolmatchNW.org to get started.  
3. Support employee bicycling. Contact the City of Portland Bike Program at 503.823.7671 or www.pdxtrans.org for resources and ideas.  
4. Provide a subsidy to employees who walk, bicycle, carpool, or take public transportation to work.  
5. Locate new stores or facilities in places that can be conveniently reached by public transportation.  
6. Consolidate and reduce business-related travel.  
7. Make sure company vehicles are properly tuned and running on correct tire pressure.  
8. Buy high mileage vehicles such as hybrid gasoline-electric, for company use.

Conserve water

1. Conserve water with the help of the Water Bureau's BIG conservation program (Business, Industry and Government). Call 503.823.4527 or visit portlandonline.com/osd for information.

Build green

1. If you are remodeling, building or retrofitting facilities, investigate ways to save energy and prevent waste. The City of Portland's Green Building Program can get you started. Grants may be available. Call 503.823.5431 or visit portlandonline.com/osd.  

Use less energy

1. When upgrading power-consuming devices, look for ENERGY STAR rated products. These will almost always save you money over the life of the product.  
2. Get help financing energy improvements from the State of Oregon's Energy Loan Program, offering highly competitive rates. Call 800.221.8035 or visit egov.oregon.gov/ENERGY/LOANS/index.shtml for more information.
3. The State offers a Business Energy Tax Credit for purchases of energy-efficient equipment. Call 800.221.8035 for more information.
4. Get answers to your energy-related questions at the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse, available at no cost to Northwest businesses. Call the hotline at 800.872.3568 or visit energyideas.org.
5. Visit the US Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star website at energystar.gov/smallbiz or call 888.782.7937 for a checklist of ways to conserve power.
6. Have an energy audit conducted. The Energy Trust of Oregon has an energy expert available to examine your building and make recommendations on opportunities to cut energy bills. Call 877.510.6800 or visit energytrust.org for more information.  

Reduce your runoff

1. Minimize the rainfall that flows from your roof and property into storm drains, carrying wastes like oil and tar into Portland's rivers. The City's Bureau of Environmental Services offers incentives to businesses taking a stand and reducing their runoff. Call the City at 503.823.5610.  

Go even further

1. The Oregon Natural Step Network offers a systematic and business-friendly method for achieving sustainability. Visit ortns.org or call 503.241.1140.
2. Businesses for Social Responsibility offers resources for integrating environmental and social ethics into business practices. Visit bsr.org or call 415.984.3200.
3. The Northwest Earth Institute offers training in sustainability principles to businesses and community groups. Visit nwei.org or call 503.227.2807.
4. The Master Recycler Program offers training that covers waste reduction, recycling processes, alternatives to hazardous cleaners, composting and green building. Classes are taught by professionals from the public and private sector. For more information visit masterrecycler.org or call 503.823.7530.

Here is what we have accomplished in the past:

• We use disposable utensils made from corn and potato, which are 100% compostable & biodegradable.
• Our plates are made with sugar cane fiber and are 100% biodegradable and 100% compost-able.
• We are members of the sustainable business network.
• We re-use all boxes that come in to our establishment from outside vendors (tomato boxes, tortilla boxes) to box up "drop off" catering orders.
• We stay away from seafood's and meats that are on the "danger" list.
• We converted our newest delivery truck to Bio-Diesel.
• All of the spent oil from our fryer is converted into bio-diesel.
• Our second delivery vehicle is run on bio-ethanol.
• For downtown deliveries, when reasonable, we deliver lunch orders on foot.
• We frequent local farmers markets to support our farmers and their families.
• To cut back on paper use, confirm by email by the press of a button, rather than confirming by fax.
• We recycle at the restaurant (plastic, paper, glass & aluminum).
• For Our Fiesta Platters, we now offer a "sustainable pack". Instead of sending plastic packaging, we bring it in restaurant pans and re-usable wear.

Here is what we have accomplished in 2009-2010 thus far:

• Converted to 100% Renewable Energy (Crave Office & Production Kitchen)
• Work Closely with Farmers to Promote Farm to Fork Menu Planning
• We are the Co-founders and Proud Members of the Sustainable Catering Association
• Partnered with EcoTrust LEED certified Building to Provide a Sustainable Events Space for Our Clients
• Partnered with The Eliot Center at First Unitarian Church LEED certified Building to Provide a Sustainable Events Space for Our Clients
• We are members of The Natural Step
• We participate in Portland Composts! Program
• We are members of the Sustainable Business Network
• We have received our RecycleWorks Award
• Offer Higher Education Classes for Crave Staff (CaterSource, Sustainability Workshops, etc...)
• Support Team Building & Extracurricular Staff Activities to Promote a Healthy and Happy Staff
• Please Welcome The Newest Addition to our Delivery Fleet, Our Hybrid Toyota Prius
• Weekly Managers Meetings Held to Promote People, Planet and Profit Discussions
• Our Business Recycles ALL Paper, Bottles & Cans Including Non-deposit Containers
• Plan Menus to Reduce Food Waste; Donate Leftover Food to Portland Homeless Shelters
• Work Closely With Seafood Venues that Promote Sustainable Fish Practices
• Use naturally Raised Meats and Corn Fed Poultry
• Frequent Local Farmers Markets to Support Our Farmers and Their Families.
• Consistently Re-use or Donate Surplus of Used Catering Equipment, Office Supplies, Computers & Used Furniture
• Minimal Use of Toxic Cleaners in Crave’s Kitchen and Washroom Facilities
• We provide and Promote the use of Non-disposable Dishware For Our Staff To Use In House For Food & Beverage Consumption
• Use Bulk Containers to Serve Food; Use "Eco Fuel" for Chaffing Pans with Re-usable Containers
• Provide China / Melamine Plateware & Flatware For All Catered Meals
• Compostable Plates, Potato Ware Cutlery & 100% Recycled Napkins For Box Lunches.
• Office Solely Uses Harbor 100% Recycled Paper for Printing
• All of the Spent Oil From Our Fryer is Converted Into Bio-diesel.
• Confirm your order via email by the press of a button, rather than confirming by fax.
• Invoices emailed rather than mailed
• We use both sides of the paper, not just one
• All paper is re-used for scratch paper and in house use and then Shredded

All Prices and Menus are subject to change without notice
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