Green Dining

Restaurant Associates and Harvard Business School would like to develop environmental best practices for the products and services it offers at our dining locations.

During the next two months we will be working with Sustainability and Environmental Resource Management consultants to review our current practices to reduce our carbon footprint.

Green Dining Initiative

Green Dining InitiativeThe objectives of this project are to:1.Assess the current state of environmental sustainability at Harvard Business School’s Dining Facilities.

2.Assess the sustainability of supply chain inputs.

3.Identify best practices to address the major environmental impacts.

4.Implement and test best practices.

5.Assess feasibility of best practices and summarize learnings from test phase.

Organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and of the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised.  Food raised organically is healthier and better for the environment. Look for local and organically grown items at the Panini Station this week beginning Monday, April 27!

Did you know?

When food is grown locally, it is picked and eaten at the height of ripeness, when the nutrients are fully developed and flavor is at its peak. Look for our Chef’s Table on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 ,featuring local and organically grown foods!

Did you know?

Sustainable SeafoodSeafood from sources, either fished or farmed, that can exist over the long-term without compromising species' survival or the health of the surrounding ecosystem is environmentally preferable. We serve Monterey Bay Aquarium approved seafood at all our stations. It’s good to be blue too!

Fair Trade CoffeeIn exchange for conducting their coffee farming in sustainable ways, farmers receive help to start cooperatives, guaranteeing a higher price for their beans, which they invest back into their farms and their communities. We serve Starbucks which is fair trade certified.

Did You Know?

In 2006 we replaced plastic clamshells with butcher paper at the sandwich station, saving over 390,000 plastic clamshells in the past 2 years!

It’s Good To Be Green!

Did You Know?

• We sell an average of 480 cups of coffee each day.

• Only 21 are in reusable mugs.

• Reuse your mug.

• Save .25 on a medium coffee!

• Save .45 on a large coffee!

In the United States, more than 95% of the nearly 300 million laying hens are confined to barren battery cages. Cage free hens are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors, improving their quality of life. Ask for your omelet to be made from cage free shell eggs.

Cage-Free Shell Eggs

Local FoodBuying food from local farms means getting food when it’s at its prime. Food that is grown and harvested locally is usually given more time to ripen, increasing its nutrient value. Try our Local and Organically Grown Breakfast Special at our Omelet Station on Tuesday, April 28, 2009!

Zero Trans-FatTrans fats raise the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol that increase your risk for coronary heart disease. That is why we use non-hydrogenated, zero trans-fat oils for both cooking, frying, and all of our bakery products.

According to the United Nations, livestock production is responsible for 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions are the result of land use changes, fertilizers used to grow livestock feed, and emissions of methane from livestock waste and ruminant gastric systems.We offer soy milk and soy cream cheese as an alternative to cow’s milk products.

Did You Know?

On average, thousands of gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef.Of all meat sources, beef and dairy cattle have the greatest environmental impact.

Did You Know?

Cattle raised for human consumption in the United States eat roughly enough grain to feed an estimated 800 million people each year, more than two times the population of the United States.

Please consider an alternative to beef when making your lunch selection.

Did You Know?

Feeding excessive antibiotics to animals can reduce the effectiveness of drugs used by humans to resist disease. Our roasted turkey, featured at the Panini station, is produced without the use of antibiotics as a feed additive.

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Organic food is known to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than produce that has been intensively farmed.

Sample an organic duck dog in the Grille on Monday April 27, 2009!

Organic ingredients are grown with minimal use of pesticides and fertilizers and no genetic modification or radiation.

This week we are featuring aPanini Station with all Organic products!

Did You Know?

Approximately 80% of used bottles end up in landfills each year instead of being recycled. Please help us recycle cans and bottles by putting them in the correct recycling receptacles.

Enjoy a sample of our fruitinfused water as an alternative to a bottled beverage!

Did You Know?

ReuseAs part of our effort to reduce disposable waste, we encourage you to use china plates and metal silverware if you’re dining in the café. Please do your part and return your dishes to the dish drop area.

Green CleaningWe use cleaning products with low toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so you can breather easier!

Compostable DisposablesOur six inch and nine inch plates for desserts and pastries, and the to-go compostable containers at the breakfast buffet are made from sustainable renewable sources.

Help us reduce the amount of trash that goes to our landfills by recycling glass, plastic, metal and paper!

Recycle!

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