Greening the Generations: Get a raise, go green!

BILLY: Mind blowing! I just got back from a working lunch with meals provided in boxes and such. Nothing weird there. BUT at the end of this meeting a lady collected all the boxes from the garbage can and -- here's the thing -- broke them down to get recycled! Then she fretted about the Styrofoam cups we had all used to swill soda. I'm like, whoa, a sustainable business lunch, who woulda thunk!

GREG: There is nothing worse than going into a meeting with a company that touts its sustainability and then as soon as lunch comes around your carbon footprint skyrockets. It is hard to believe there are still companies in this world that use Styrofoam. I remember when I was a kid there was a whole episode of 'Saved by the Bell' where an eco-kid wanted the school to stop using Styrofoam. That must have been 16 years ago and you still find it in use! Ridiculous!

BILLY: Screech from "Saved by the Bell" wasn't available to school us today, so I invited in Tara Cuff, catering director at Raleigh's Green Planet Catering. She claims sustainability can help you climb the corporate ladder. Let's grill her ... So, Tara, we're all human here. Tell us one of your biggest personal green crimes before telling us how we can do better.

TARA: Well, I do sometimes get a fountain drink in a Styrofoam cup. I know it's wrong, but sometimes I just got to have one, and they are the only cups they have available. I sometimes keep the corn plastic cups in my car and bring them in to stores. The people working there think I am crazy. Crazy for the environment, I say. I know, I'm a dork.

GREG: Ah, a self-confessed dork. Billy and I can relate. OK, what's the biggest eco-mistake people make at meetings/events?

TARA: The biggest mistake has to be the waste that is involved with most events. It starts with people taking more food than they can eat, then throwing it away, and continues with the plates, napkins, plastic cups, tablecloths, catering trays and bowls that go into trash cans with the left over food. Using bottled water instead of water in reusable pitchers, serving condiments and sugar in packets, and using too much packaging to serve the food all create waste. Even the use of plastic trash bags that sit in our land fills for years creates more of a problem. The gas consumed and the emissions that are put into the air while delivering the items for the event are harmful to the environment as well.

BILLY: Alright, alright, I feel terrible. So what are three simple things the average fallible fella can do to make an event more green?

TARA: Start by hiring a caterer that buys local/organic foods, and uses items that are recycled, compostable and biodegradable. Order meals buffet style instead of individually wrapped that create waste. Use real dishes, utensils, glasses and coffee cups at an event/lunch.

GREG: What if you just can't use the real stuff because, say, you're hosting a bunch of party animals who might break everything? What kind of disposable cups, plates and utensils are best?

TARA: The best are made from non-petroleum based, natural products such as corn, potatoes, and other natural fibers. Recycled paper & PLA coated products are an eco friendly alternatives to the plastic and styrofoam products, and easier to find these days. The technology that is involved in manufacturing these products is speeding ahead so fast that I predict in a few years from now everyone will be using them. Some of my favorites right now are the potato starch utensils and the cleaning products on the market.

BILLY: We know you're a big wig caterer, but pretend for a sec you're just a corporate cog. How do you go tell your boss it's time to focus on green-ing business events like group lunches? Remember, if you get anyone in trouble, you have to pay the severance package.

TARA: I recommend that they say something like this; "Hi my favorite boss ever, I have recently heard about Green Planet Catering. They use these cool products when they cater. The forks and spoons are made out of potatoes, and the cups and plates are made out of corn. They shop locally and boost the local economy by doing so. Let's do our part and hire them to cater our next event, I think it will really impress our clients that our company is becoming greener".

NOW WE NEED YOU! Post a comment with other ideas, better ideas, anything you want to sound off about ...