Our PEACE framework gives you confidence to pursue sustainability.
Below you’ll find information on many sustainability topics, but the overriding theme is making it:
Practical: Sustainability needs to be actionable! We provide toolkits, checklists, and step-by-step guidance.
Economical: We aim to include the selling points and business case of sustainability initiatives.
Approachable: There's too much blaming and shaming. We want you to feel good about the next step, not bad for the previous ones.
Celebrated: We applaud every plate of food donated, every email you didn’t print, every day you take public transportation, and every time you show up to learn. We elevate and amplify those doing good, no matter how small their efforts.
Enjoyable: Sustainability is an uphill battle. We can't change that, but as we climb the mountain, we want to experience growth, comradery, fun, enlightenment, inspiration, and joy. We emphasize teamwork and discovery.
Sustainability is a journey. We hope our content serves as guide and encouragement!
Browse all content below or click on a theme to read blogs on those topics and to learn more about our services and courses in these areas.
Blogs on leadership, empowerment, reporting, green teams, staff education, and the business case.
Blogs on waste prevention and reduction - both food and materials - and circular economy.
Blogs on sustainable procurement and responsible sourcing, supplier diversity, and other related topics.
Blogs on social issues such as supplier diversity, human trafficking, community engagement, etc.
Tips and ideas for environmental initiatives for buildings and daily operations to reduce your footprint.
Blogs on various topics related to sustainability and social impact in food supply chains.
ALL BLOGS
Scaling Contract Mountain
Policies and contracts often get in the way of moving forward with improvements that would achieve desirable social and environmental outcomes. I frequently speak with those, both those selling ideas from within the organization and those outside selling products and services that help companies be more sustainable. When it comes to selling ideas, products, and services to larger organizations, one of the most common obstacles you’ll run up against is contracts. This can be particularly frustrating because it feels like a hard, nonnegotiable NO - an unscalable mountain.
Reopening: Rethink or Regress?
Every day I see more posts about ‘back to normal’ activities. But as we reopen, let’s not get ‘back to normal.’ One of the most common and frustrating experiences people have when trying make positive changes is to encounter the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. I recently spoke with a mentee who works at a hotel. The hotel is not reopening, it’s opening. None of the employees have worked for this brand before, yet she is constantly encountering “[hotel x] says we have to do it this way.”
Itchy Skin and a Swollen Head
According to MCS Aware, a site dedicated to helping people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), it is a “chronic, physical illness affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. It causes sufferers to have allergic-type reactions to very low levels of chemicals in everyday products. Put simply the immune and detoxification systems stop working properly and the body cannot process toxins efficiently.” This blog is about my journey with chemical sensitivity and why it’s important to consider your customer’s comfort.
Inspire Staff, Step Back, Watch Magic Happen!
After a food waste training session, there was such excitement among staff to participate that they almost had a "too many cooks in the kitchen" situation. The confusion of having so many people involved led to a refinement in process, definitions of waste, vessels, etc. and clarification of roles so that everyone can add value.
Because I Said So!
Sustainability, like any major change initiative, is dependent on executive sponsorship, but the focus on top leadership buy-in can be skewed. Executive sponsorship is no doubt vital. Projects without it have lackluster results and high resentment. Much time is invested wooing executives, but initiatives become watered down by the time they reach managers and frontline employees. Don’t just make it a “because I said so” exercise.
Get out of the way!
I’m always talking about the importance of empowerment. And just to prove how much such messages need reinforcement, here’s a story about how my own doubts and good intentions got in the way… or almost did. It’s such an awesome story of what can happen when you give people just a little freedom to try out their ideas.
Overcoming Jerks (and toxic culture)
The COVID-19 crisis has caused the restaurant industry to call out abusive behavior, racism and sexual harassment. Every industry and workplace can be home to this type of behavior, but a restaurant seems to be a special breeding ground for this. In this blog, we offer some tips for overcoming jerks in the workplace when trying to drive sustainability - not just restaurants but any workplace.