The business world is hot on corporate social responsibility, also called CSR, right now. Huge companies are using it to show that they care about the environment and the impact that their ways of conducting themselves have on the planet. As an example, car companies are investing billions of dollars into electric vehicle technology. Many people are buying hybrid cars, or even going full electric. This change is removing CO2 emissions from gasoline engines out of the environmental equation. But what about the aviation industry? The battery-powered airplane is a very long way off, but they need to start somewhere.
American Airlines have done just that with their ban on single-use plastic straws and stirrers. When taking into account lounges and flights where these products are served with drinks, the airline has estimated that it can prevent the production of more than 71,000lbs of plastic. It's amazing how one small change can make such a huge impact.
Another huge corporation, Starbucks, has also said that it won’t be using straws made from plastic either. American Airlines will be replacing theirs with more environmentally-friendly bamboo together with the trays on which their meals are served. McDonald's is another company following suit, and certain hotel companies around the world are banning straws.
The airline knows that it is in a thankless position of trying to offset emissions in its industry. Huge volumes of toxic gas are an inescapable by-product of the very thing that they were set up to do, which is fly passengers to far-off destinations. Cleaner fuels can be introduced but they too are some time away from being the norm.
However, they’ve made a start. And as that CSR work continues with how they go about their business on the ground, they’ll be making good progress to control what they can, when they can.
Those who are truly concerned with their footprint on nature and being eco-friendly can often struggle with the simplest pleasures of life. Sometimes, going out for dinner or coffee can be a stressful affair if you know that the restaurant does not ethically source its meat nor do they try to recycle where possible.
For many, these situations may be all too familiar. If that’s you or you are looking to associate yourself with companies that are more environmentally friendly, consider seeking establishments that try to minimize their impact on the environment.
The coffee industry has been rapidly growing over the last years across the world, spurred on by a strong coffee culture. This has also shone the spotlight on the waste created by this industry. From coffee waste to milk waste, wastage in cafes is a pressing issue.
This is what forced Douglas McMaster, the owner of Silo to develop a restaurant focused on zero waste and sustainability, all within an urban environment.
Silo is a cafe located in Brighton, UK and it uses a variety of environmental conservation efforts when operating. For instance, coffee and produce arrive at the cafe with no packaging, thus reducing the use of plastic. In addition, all coffee beans are locally sourced and delivered in reusable crates.
McMaster initially worked in Melbourne where he opened a small pop-up store. This experience taught him about waste and convinced him to move away from industrial practices and to focus on zero waste.
Guests at the coffee shop were served coffee in glass jars, eliminating non-reusable plastic cups. All excess food at Silo is also thrown into a compost machine and turned into fertilizer. This is then shared with local farmers. The entire concept is well thought of, from the start of the coffee process to the end. If you find yourself in the seaside city, drop in.
[CREDIT]unsplash.com[/CREDIT]unsplash.com