Last month, as we were preparing for our 10th Anniversary Celebrations we realized that we had to be a bit more aware of our purchases. Serving food every day in the showroom from our favorite local restaurants plus inviting the community for lunch on the weekend would mean using more disposable items than ever before.
Fortunately for us, there are plenty of durable and attractive disposable items that are also compostable and biodegradable.
We started by ordering items, like our food trays, made from unbleached natural kraft paper. This reduces raw material waste by 20%. Plus, the recycled, chlorine-free manufacturing process is eco-friendly and Made in America. They turned out to be very sturdy, easy to hold, and the perfect shape to hold the rice and kabobs we served at our market event. Our coffee cups, also used daily in the customer lounge, are crafted from a mix of 100% plant-based renewable resources and 10% post-consumer recycled fiber.
Our favorite find were the utensils made from cornstarch. These renewable resource products are 100% green and break down quickly, unlike their plastic counterparts. The look and feel of them is great as well.
We admit, sometimes it takes time, research and the initial cost is slightly higher to get the right items. We have to take into account how the items will be used by our customers and if they are in-line with food safety protocols. But finding quality items also means no need to use more than one (like those flimsy paper plates or plastic forks that shatter too easily). So really it ends up being a win-win for everyone and the environment!
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Long Subaru is committed to a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle policy.
Currently we are 'Run on Sun' with both our Showroom, Service Area, and Collision Center 100% solar powered. We encourage our customers to join us by placing commonly used customer lounge items such as coffee cups and water bottles in the recycle bin.
