TFJ3C Ms. Mulligan Smith

Why do we need to think of the environment in the H&T industry?

Environmentally Friendly Waste Management Disposal of cooking oils Garbage disposal Recycling cardboard, plastics and glass Composting organic wastes

What is an ecological footprint?

Ecological Footprints are… a measure of human impact on the Earth The footprint equals the Earth’s cost to sustain one person It’s measured in hectares and represents the land area needed to provide resources and absorb waste and greenhouse gases produced by an individual

Assessing Ecological Footprints of an Event or Activity Food waste Total garbage Reducing, reusing, recycling “green” initiatives Transportation fuel needed Chemical usage Biodegradable items usage Energy efficiency Others??? Food waste Total garbage Reducing, reusing, recycling “green” initiatives Transportation fuel needed Chemical usage Biodegradable items usage Energy efficiency Others???

What are the numbers? World Average – 2.2 hectares Biggest Footprint – United States – 9.6 hectares Smallest Footprint – Bangladesh – 0.5 hectares Average Canadian Footprint – 8.6 hectares Canada has the 3rd highest footprint in the world! Why is Canada’s average footprint so BIG?

What do we really “need”? We require ….. 0.2 hectares of land for water (to drink & provide seafood) 0.4 hectares of land for home and roads and factories that make the material things we grave 1.6 hectares of land for farmland to grow the food we eat 0.3 hectares of land for grazing land for meat and dairy 1.4 hectares of land for timber wood and paper products 4.7 hectares of land needed to absorb the greenhouse gases produced by driving around town, through the running of air conditioners and the import of exotic goods and foods = 8.6 hectares

WE ARE USING MORE THAN WE HAVE! PROBLEM: WE ARE USING MORE THAN WE HAVE!

What is Sustainability? Sustainability refers to the ability to develop in order to meet the needs of the present without negatively affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs Stewardship refers to the responsibility we all have to the environment and resources that has been left to us by our ancestors. We are all stewards to our planet. If we are not all following our role as stewards in the global village, then we will not have a sustainable environment for our future children.

Environmental Sustainability Sustainability to think about in the H&T Industry: Carrying Capacity: environmentally sensitive areas Energy Efficient Buildings, Equipment and Transportation Reusing and Recycling Waste Products

Food Producers and Consumers What is the relationship between food producers and food consumers? How does this relationship affect the environment? Production of organic foods Less chemical fertilizers and pesticides The Slow Food Movement: supports local food production and the continuing use of traditional food products Culinary Tourism: increases consumer awareness

Waste Management Definitions Baler: a compactor used to compress recyclables or trash; in some cases, balers can make materials like cardboard easier to collect and recycle (compact it) Closed Loop Recycling: process of collecting an item (bottle) and processing it back into another bottle for repurchase Commingled Materials: recycling, all mixed together, such as plastic bottles with glass and metal containers; require sorting after collecting Composting: controlled decomposition of organic matter to produce a fertilizer or soil Contaminant: any non-acceptable material mixed in with recyclables Disposal Cost Savings: money savings fro reduced waste hauling service expenses due to waste reduction and recycling (credit) Post-Consumer Content: recycled content that comes from materials that have been used by consumers Pre-Consumer Content: scraps and trash created during manufacturing process (paper trimmed when making cartons)

Waste Management Definitions Source Separation: any method that separates recyclables from waste at the generation point Waste Audit: a process that examines a waste stream, identifies its components and makes recommendations on how to reduce, reuse and recycle and better manage the waste stream Waste Stream: all the recyclable and refuse that your establishment generates