Whitsons Culinary Group is expanding its sustainability efforts

Islandia, NY, May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Whitsons Culinary Group®, a leading food service provider, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability with its Taskforce Green program. This initiative aims to promote sustainable practices in operations and communities, with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint in all locations.

Whitsons is at the forefront of sustainable efforts, working with schools and other organizations to implement impactful environmental initiatives. Recent efforts include:

Compost and Recycling Programs:

• The school nutrition team at Lexington Public Schools, MA, has led the way in sustainability efforts, composting 130 tons of food waste annually. Through initiatives such as Food Share and participation in the NexTrex Recycling Challenge, they have recycled approximately 1,500 kg. of plastic bags and film this school year.
• Inspired by Lexington’s success, other Whitsons locations, including those in Easton Public Schools, MA, Fairfield Public Schools, CT, Oxford Public Schools, CT, Newton Public Schools, MA and Timberlane Regional School District, NH, have collectively served more than 3,300 recycled materials recycled. lb. of plastic bags and film through the NexTrex Challenge during the 2023-2024 school year, to date.

Compost Partnerships:

• In Fairfield Public Schools, CT, the school nutrition team supported the district’s partnership with Sustainable Fairfield, Fairfield PTA Council Green Teams and Sustainable CT to expand composting of cafeteria and kitchen waste in 11 school buildings. £181,000 so far. of food waste diverted from landfill through composting, reducing emissions by the equivalent of driving 125,000 miles.
• In Everett Public Schools, MA, the nutrition team worked with Bootstrap Compost through a partnership with the City of Everett to compost 9,185 lbs., or more than five tons of food waste, returning the compost to local soil and donating it to community. gardens like Everett Community Growers.
• Whitsons is supporting a school partnership with CERO for a compostable waste program in Wellesley, Massachusetts, diverting more than 7,500 pounds. of compostable waste in February 2024 alone.

Reduce food waste:

• Through partnerships with organizations like Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Whitsons locations have redistributed excess food, saving more than 5,000 pounds. of emissions and serving nearly 1,800 meals to those in need.

Promoting plant-based options:

• Whitsons was in sixth place^e on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 2024 Protein Sustainability Scorecard, reflecting its commitment to offering plant-based options. Initiatives such as the Veggabóls program have resulted in increased plant-based supply and significant greenhouse gas savings.

Diversion and repurposing of food waste:

• Whitson’s Prepared Meals Division is working with Zutat Feed Solutions to repurpose excess production of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, diverting more than 1.6 million pounds of waste annually.

Community jackets:

• During the annual coat drive, Whitsons provided warmth to those in need, while more than 700 gently used coats were kept from going to landfill.

Recycling of solar eclipse glasses:

• Whitsons’ ‘Sharing the Sun’ initiative is collecting used solar eclipse glasses for a new purpose, supporting future eclipse events around the world.

Sustainability education:

• Whitsons headquarters came together on Earth Day to learn more about everyday sustainable practices around reuse, repurposing and reduction. The team discussed best practices in reusable items such as water bottles, food containers, bags and green supplies, creatively reusing items instead of throwing them away, and reducing food waste through the Food Recovery Hierarchy, understanding product labels, freezing of excess fresh food and portioning during food preparation.

Paul Whitcomb, President & CEO of Whitsons, commented: “I am proud of the achievements of Whitsons team members across the organization for their efforts in reducing waste and supporting sustainability in their communities and reducing environmental footprint of the company through daily activities. These efforts underscore Whitsons’ commitment to sustainability and the company’s role as an original member of the US Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions.”

About Whitsons Culinary Group
Whitsons Culinary Group is a leading provider of bespoke dining services for education, healthcare, community markets and specialty services in the country. With a steadfast commitment to providing high-quality, nutritious meals made with wholesome, fresh ingredients, Whitsons Enhancing Life’s mission is One Meal at a Time™. As an NMSDC Certified, Minority-Owned Company, we prioritize diversity for our team members and valued customers. Since 1979, Whitsons has upheld a legacy of excellence and consistent growth. Today, we’re at the forefront of the foodservice industry, setting new standards with our commitment to healthy food, family values ​​and personal service. For more information about Whitsons, visit www.whitsons.com or Facebook and LinkedIn.