A New Year’s Message from The Table Food Consultants
Happy New Year 2024!
Hey there, Happy New Year to all of you! We hope your holidays were filled with joy
and your restaurants bustling with merry customers. As we step into 2024, may this
year bring a sense of “normality” to all our operations and propel us closer to our
business goals.
For us, this year is about awareness and education. We know meaningful change (and the future of our industry) needs widespread, collaborative effort – and that means not just preaching to the choir. We need to make sure every hospitality operator understands the necessity (and potential benefits for their business!) of embracing environmentally sustainable hospitality. So we’re putting together a program of resources and accessible workshops so that all corners of the industry can access the information they need on their sustainability journey – whether they’re already making huge strides, or just dipping their toes in.
So if you’re new here, or new to sustainable hospitality initiatives – what does this actually mean?
You’ve probably noticed terms like “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” and “Earth Smart”
plastered on products, menus, and packaging everywhere these days. But what does it
really mean? Are we doing enough in our businesses? Does using these products truly
make our business sustainable?
First, let’s define sustainability in our business. Simply put, it’s about meeting the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
Now, let’s break it down into the 3 P’s:
- People: This covers caring for everyone within and outside our organisations. It includes fair wages, work-life balance, training, and development opportunities.
- Planet: Our responsibility as businesses is to future-proof our planet. This involves proactive measures to minimize our environmental impact, like recycling, reducing food waste, and choosing sustainable suppliers.
- Profit: Of course, profitability is essential – we all need to keep the lights on, and we’d never encourage our clients or community to do something that’ll send them bust. But it’s about maintaining a healthy balance while ensuring sustainability.
Why’s it so important?
Now, let’s talk food and beverage, the heart of our industry. Here are just a few alarming environmental impacts of our food system:
Food Waste
- 1/3 of all food produced doesn’t make it to our plates.
- If food waste were a country, it would rank as the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China.
- 17% of all food sent out of our kitchens returns as plate waste.
Fishing
- The population of some marine species has declined by 49% in the past 40 years. Species like bluefin tuna and certain sharks have been particularly affected.
Packaging
- The average coffee cup takes approximately 3.8 litres of water to manufacture.
- In Australia, we use over 1 billion disposable coffee cups every year – that’s over 2 million cups thrown out every day!
The heartening news is that all of these are areas we as hospitality professionals can directly tackle.
What’s next?
Over the next 12 months of 2024, we’re thrilled to be rolling out education and awareness initiatives through blogs, webinars, recipes, and workshops. We’re inspired by the fact that 54% of consumers are becoming more aware of where their food comes from and how it’s processed. This growing awareness reflects a shared commitment to sustainability and a desire to make informed choices.
We’re excited to embark on this journey towards a more sustainable future for the hospitality industry. Let’s work together to fill more sustainable
plates on our TABLE.
Stay tuned and subscribe to our mailing list below to stay updated with our journey!
