Sustainable Catering Options
Together we can make a difference
The touring industry is a vast consumer of non-reuseable, non-biodegradable products. The transient nature of the industry often gives the impression that this is excusable to ensure the fluid completion of tasks on the strict timeline a road crew must follow. Catering has long been a part of this “waste is alright for speed and convenience” scenario.
On any given day on tour the following disposable products will be used and wasted PER PERSON:
8 solo drinking cups (oil based and often not biodegradable, usually not recycled)
3 plastic or paper plates
2 plastic bowls
4 aluminum cans
8 plastic water bottles
5 plastic knives, forks or spoons
12 paper napkins
1 to-go container
3 glass bottles
3 plastic bags for groceries
Every 10 people produce one large trash bag of disposable trash per show. This means 50 crew members over 80 shows will produce over a Semi trailer full of trash we could have eliminated. This is a small part of the big equation, but it certainly adds up.
Additionally, most food products are thrown straight in the garbage at the end of a show (with the “disposables” listed above).
We need to do better. LATITUDE 45 CATERING is proud to offer a Sustainable Catering Program to those who wish to make a difference. Your tour can and will eliminate much of this waste from the daily routine, thus doing a small part towards slowing the steady destruction of our planet.
Ways we can work to be more sustainable:
Reusables.
Our company provides china and flatware for all meals, china cups for hot drinks and reusable plastic tumblers for all cold drinks. Paper napkins are replaced by cloth alternatives. Disposables will only be available upon request. For crew members we provide reusable plastics and ask that they are returned for washing.
Instead of the ever-present 500ml disposable water bottles, each member of the tour will be provided with reuseable personal drink containers. Drinking water will come from water coolers. Organizing the delivery of 5 gallon bottles will be part of the catering advance. Water cooler dispensers will travel with Catering.
Bus Stock.
Buses will be stocked with crockery, silverware, cups and tumblers. These will be brought into the venue each day to be washed and then returned with the daily bus stock.
Aftershow food will be re-evaluated. Hot food often gets passed over and thrown away. To reduce waste, we can discuss what isn’t being consumed and instead explore the idea of having the bus stocked with options for people to make food as they need do.
Local Sustainable Procurement.
We endeavor to partner with local farmers in each city to source local sustainable produce and try to use only approved fish and meat products.
By incorporating a pre order system for meals, waste is reduced massively. What is left over is returned to the community through local charities and food scraps sent to pig farms to help the reuse not waste ideal.
Disposal.
We ask for all waste water to be disposed of in an eco-friendly fashion as a part of our venue advance.
As part of our standard advance, promoters are asked to source and have available recycling options for their area.
Extra food, wherever possible, will be picked up and distributed to the needy through charities like “Rock and Wrap it Up.”
Eco-Friendly.
We use environmentally friendly, biodegradable soaps for laundry & dish washing.
Instead of plastic shopping bags for groceries, we use recycled Banana boxes to carry our shopping. These boxes are re-used in a variety of ways throughout the day.
Incorporate Meatless Mondays into the schedule. Reducing our carbon footprint by encouraging more plant based meals.