In an effort to reduce plastic waste, food and facilities management company Aramark has committed to significantly reducing the use of single-use disposable plastics across its global operations by 2022.
Starting in September, Aramark will implement changes across 19 countries, including Ireland and the UK where it serves over 110 million meals a year in over 1,100 workplaces, sports and leisure venues, hospitals, universities and more.
Holistic Strategy
The announcement is part of a holistic strategy to address single-use plastics overall, starting with the most visible category of straws, cups and soup containers offering reusable products and encouraging consumers to consider biodegradable alternatives.
Already Aramark has removed over 410,000 straws from UK sites and is in the process of removing 418,000 straws from client locations in Ireland by December 2018. Similarly, it has replaced approximately 5 million plastic lined coffee cups and soup containers with a fully compostable product. Beyond this, it plans to reduce the use of any single-use plastics such as bags, forks, and knives and expand offerings with reusable containers and bags.
Managing Director for Food Services Ireland Shane Flynn explained, “By working hand-in-hand with our customers, we can make significant progress in limiting the consumption of single-use plastics by reducing waste before it happens. This action provides an opportunity to make meaningful achievements in minimising our environmental impact, while continuing to deliver experiences that enrich and nourish lives”.
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
