-Questions answered by Greg Henning, Director of Dining Services

How did this start? What was the impetus?

In late 2008 Compass Group, the parent company of Morrison Senior Living which manages Dining Services at Landis Homes, initiated the 360 Degree Sustainable Excellence Program of Corporate Social Responsibility.  That program’s core philosophy is to “achieve commercial success in a way that honors ethical values and respects people, communities and the natural environment.”  
 
What are the new things you are doing to protect the environment?

Our basic philosophy is “Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.”

We have reduced the use of all paper and plastics throughout the community.  Catered events are now served using over 80% re-usable china or compostable materials.
Hot and cold cups in all Cafes are 100% compostable as of April  2010.

Customers are encouraged to use china and most disposable ware has been removed from self-service areas.

We have a low-flow water system for our dishwashers and for the water we use to wash fruits and vegetables.

Since 2008, we have increased recycling of cardboard, bi-metal and aluminum cans, and plastics from near zero to over 40 cubic yards weekly.

Our "Trim Trax" program currently captures organic waste that is transported to a Landis Homes composting site.  This program will be increased this year to incorporate more pre-and post consumer waste and co-mingled with other compost-ables through a local company which can also accept fats and proteins that are not normally mixed in standard composting programs.  Even the bags used to accumulate the waste will be 100% compostable.

What changes have you made to your purchasing practices?

Since 2008 we have been purchasing Sustainable Seafood which meets the standards recommended by the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Foundation's Seafood Watch Program.  In 2009 the Compass Group moved over 2 million pounds of seafood purchasing from the endangered or threatened varieties to sustainable seafood choices.

While we have always had a focus on local produce (and even purchase many items from Harvest View Farms next door).   we also now Buy Local produce from a local distributor, Kegel's Produce, that offers the best seasonal produce from surrounding farms without Landis Homes contracting directly with numerous local growers.

The Dining Services Department will initiate an Herb Garden Program this spring to provide our kitchens with fresh herbs grown on site.
Working with the Life Enrichment Department, Dining is promoting vegetable gardens on campus and in courtyards to encourage residents in all areas of the campus to participate (and simply enjoy watching grow, watering and/or tasting)in our Growing Green program.

The American Dietetic Association has recommended that all persons should increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Landis Homes is encouraging more consumption of non-meat meals as a way to increase the personal health and the health of the environment.  We support the Flexitarian concept of going meatless one day a week.  We also are serving more Vegetarian meals and sponsored an evening dinner of all Vegan fare on Earth Day this year.  Salad bars are being expanded to include whole grains and a variety of lettuces and spring greens.
               
In other purchasing strategies: we only purchase pasteurized, cage-free shell eggs; our produce must be grown pesticide free; all oils are trans fat free, as are our salad dressings and most of our prepared food products; the poultry we purchase is raised without the use of human antibiotics (rBGH) and our milk is hormone-free.

Do you have any closing comments?

From a personal perspective, I simply feel, as a steward of this beautiful earth that God has provided for us and the director of a large department within Landis Homes, I am grateful to be part of a program that is doing a lot more to reduce our carbon footprint, support our local agriculture, and to encourage waste reduction, recycling and composting. I see it as an ongoing journey.