5 Tips to Start a Eco-Friendly Catering Business

This article talks about five important tips that can help you start an eco-friendly catering business.

Pamela Paul
Created by Pamela Paul (User Generated Content*)User Generated Content is not posted by anyone affiliated with, or on behalf of, Playbuzz.com.
On Feb 21, 2019
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Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle might have started as a trend but it is quickly gaining traction among environmentally concerned customers and businesses alike. Establishing an environment-friendly catering business, therefore, can appeal to a wider and more inclusive consumer base and would also help minimize the carbon imprint and the adverse effects of the business on the environment.

Banquets, weddings, birthday parties, celebrations, anniversaries, and many more types of events keep the catering business alive and thriving. It is the caterers, who take responsibility for providing quality food for the guests. Whether it is 10 or 10,000 guests who are being invited, it is the caterers' responsibility to see that all the invitees are satisfied with the food and service that they receive.

To handle such huge orders, often the thought environmental sustainability is put on hold and the main issue of feeding the guests is given top priority. Catering businesses refrain from taking environmentally conscious measures under the belief that it will be costly and difficult to execute. However, we will be discussing five steps that will make it very easy to turn your catering business into an eco-friendly one.

5 Tips to Start an Environmentally-Friendly Business

1. Serve Food that is Environmentally Friendly:

The first and the foremost thing that comes to our mind when we say caterers is food. Tasty food is the key to a successful catering business and this would be a perfect place to make some ecologically positive changes.

The first thing that a caterer can do is to offer more vegan and vegetarian dishes. Growing vegetables is much more sustainable than rearing animals, as it requires more water and land to produce the different kinds of meat like poultry, beef, and pork.

While going full vegan might not be possible in many situations, you can still cut down on the amount of meat on your menu by offering more plant-based protein sources like quinoa, chickpeas, and nuts.

It would also be helpful to introduce a seasonal menu which would offer food items made from fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables and would also limit the negative impact the business has on the environment.

Offering a seasonal menu would also help you cut down on your costs, as it would take fewer resources to bring the food from the farm to the kitchen and then onto the food warmers for parties. You will not have to travel great distances and and spend money on storing off-season ingredients.

2. Limit the Amount of Waste Produced:

One of the primary problems that is affecting the environment currently is the production of a huge amount of waste. Catering businesses also produce a huge amount of food waste, which includes non-biodegradable cutlery. Food waste, generated from the kitchen and by the consumers, is sent directly to the landfills, where they rot and release a copious amount of methane gas into the atmosphere.

To limit food waste and curb the release of greenhouse gases like methane, it is best to donate the excess consumable food to people instead of throwing it away.

3. Use Energy Efficient Food Warmers for Parties:

It is not enough to just limit the ecologically sustainable changes to food only. The associated items and equipment that you use, like the food warmers for parties and other events, must also be eco-friendly in nature. While the most commonly used food warmer for parties and other events is the Sterno buffet kit which uses chafing fuel, a more eco-friendly alternative has emerged that uses neither water, electricity, nor fire to keep the food toasty warm.

The revolutionary EcoHeat system uses air-activated EcoHeat warmers that produce consistent heat through the process of oxidation. The warmers come with a support system and customizable skirt to keep the food warm for a long time. Given that this food warmer uses neither fire, water, nor electricity, it is absolutely eco-friendly and safe to use for both indoor and outdoor events.

4. Use Ecologically Sustainable Serving and Tableware:

The third most important aspect that contributes to the eco-friendliness of a catering business is the tableware and serving ware that is used. Non-biodegradable serving and tableware made of plastic are responsible for polluting the environment and the water bodies. Therefore, it is best to incorporate biodegradable dishes and serving ware when establishing an eco-friendly catering business.

Paper and foam are not only sustainable alternatives to plastic plates, spoons, forks, and ladles, but they also bring a trendy and rustic feel to the table. You can also opt for tableware made out of biodegradable PET plastic, which can be easily recycled. Other sustainable alternatives include utensils made from wood and bamboo. Using tableware made out of cloth is also an environmentally friendly option that can suit both informal and formal events.

5. Train the Staff to Separate the Recyclable Materials:

One of the best ways to become an environmentally friendly catering business is to recycle all that you can. However, to successfully recycle the items at the party venue, one needs to undertake a few simple steps:

  • The first and foremost thing is to train the staff members thoroughly about waste management practices and ensure that they understand which items can be recycled and which cannot.


  • The second thing is to clearly segregate recycling containers for dry and wet waste, so that they can be disposed of correctly. You must also install an all-purpose trash can that can be used by the guests.


In Conclusion:

Starting an ecologically conscious and eco-friendly catering business might seem like a huge undertaking at first. However, taking small steps at a time will make it much easier and will ensure that you achieve your goal without affecting your bottom line. An eco-friendly catering business that uses sustainable food warmers for parties, recyclable tableware, and offers environmentally friendly food will not only lower the carbon footprint on the planet but will also prove to be much more economical in the long run.

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