Earth Day is on April 22, and as a company committed to green initiatives, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate! This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in Our Planet”, but at FOH, we make it our mission to make a positive impact on the environment every day of the year.
As you may know, FOH has always been dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint. Not only do we offer sustainable solutions, we also engage in eco-friendly practices at our corporate settings and encourage our team members to give back to the community via our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, From Our Hearts.
Here is a look at some of our upcoming and previous Earth Day activities as well as ongoing sustainable workplace solutions.
Sustainable Solutions and Corporate Green Initiatives
Sustainable Products
The foodservice and hospitality industry has made a huge shift toward reducing the impact of its carbon footprint and creating more eco-friendly product options. Instead of producing single-use products or those made from plastic, the industry has moved toward providing solutions that are made from recycled materials with decomposable elements and products made from durable materials that can be reused numerous times.
In response to this global transition, we are actively increasing the number of sustainable solutions in our portfolio. We have modified some of the materials we use in our products to ensure they are as environmentally friendly as they are stylish and introduced sustainable collections in our Drinkwise, Platewise, and Servewise lines, including straws and plates made from biodegradable and compostable paper and wood, as well as BPA-free drinkware.
Eco-Friendly Product Packaging
Our products are always in-stock and ready to ship worldwide from distribution centers located throughout the world, which reduces transportation-related emissions and impact on the environment.
Shipments are assembled using PREGIS® special water-blue eco-friendly product packaging. This sustainable bubble wrap is considered 100% recyclable packaging, which is a HUGE deal. It is “curbside recyclable,” which means it can be placed in a recycling bin for pickup by a waste collection service. Regular bubble wrap contains materials that prevent it from being able to undergo simple recycling methods, so our packaging helps to significantly reduce our carbon footprint.
Additionally, a portion of proceeds are donated to Uzima Water Filters, a non-profit organization that provides clean water filters to people in developing countries that do not have access to clean water.
Green Initiatives at the Workplace
Our commitment to sustainability is at the heartbeat of our corporate culture. We have undergone several in-house initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint. For example, we have successfully replaced all plastic materials across our offices and distribution centers with our very own sustainable collections and filtered water dispensers to discourage consumption of plastic water bottles. Our workspaces are energy-efficient as well, outfitted with LED motion sensor lighting, Nest programmable thermostats, and energy-saving appliances.
Previous Green Efforts
One Tree Planted
One Tree Planted is a nonprofit organization dedicated to global reforestation. Founded in 2014, the organization plants one tree for every one dollar donated to the cause and has more than doubled the number of trees planted each year since its inception. FOH first partnered with One Tree Planted after accepting the #MillionTreeChallenge to restore National Forests across the United States and have been contributing to the effort every year since. Many of our team members participated in the green initiative by planting trees at the Country Club of Miami’s South Park in Hialeah.
The Oceanic Society
FOH partnered with the Oceanic Society for Blue Habits, an ocean cleanup and conservation initiative. Blue Habits aims to bring awareness to society about the impact of our behavior on the ocean and promote positive actions so we can actively make a difference in protecting our oceans. Our pledge helped to eliminate approximately 20,000 pounds of plastic from the world’s oceans.
Upcoming Earth Day Activities
Loop Mobile Shoreline Cleanup
Hosted by VolunteerCleanup.org, the beach cleanup is sponsored by Loop Mobile and takes place at Oleta River State Park. Members of our team who volunteered will be picking up trash and marine debris around the shoreline of Biscayne Bay, one of South Florida’s most important ecological systems. VolunteerCleaunp.org will provide all the supplies for the cleanup (gloves, bags, pickers, buckets, sunscreen, insect repellent, and hand sanitizer).
Baynanza Cleanup
Our Earth Day volunteer work continues at Pelican Harbor Marina to celebrate the 41st anniversary of Baynanza Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day. Baynanza is celebrated throughout March and April and brings the community together to help clean Biscayne Bay’s shorelines at 31 locations across Miami-Dade County. Headquartered in Miami, these types of green initiatives are especially dear to us since this is our home.
Broward County Library’s Earth Day Fun Day
On Earth Day, we’ll be at Hollywood Beach to celebrate the second annual BCL Earth Day Fun Day. Sponsored by the Broward County Library, the family-friendly event will feature a beach cleanup, StoryWalk, conservation awareness program, and other Earth Day activities.
As Earth Day approaches, we are all reminded to be more mindful of the impact our actions have on the environment. FOH continues to be committed to offering both eco-friendly products and sustainable workplace solutions to help reduce our carbon footprint and protect our planet in any way we can. We are proud to be a pro-sustainability and green initiatives company!