Catering, like all industries, is constantly changing and evolving. It adapts to new market trends and consumer demands. Within this context, sustainable catering has emerged—an up-and-coming concept that could greatly enhance your event, no matter the type. Let’s take a closer look to help you decide if it’s right for your next corporate gathering or celebration.
What is sustainable catering
Sustainable catering can be defined as catering that aims to have the lowest environmental impact possible. To achieve this, it takes all aspects of the service into account, from raw materials to the products used for serving. We’ll delve into all these details below.
This type of catering is perfect for events designed with sustainability in mind. For instance, it works well for companies that manufacture eco-friendly products or for weddings where the couple is committed to environmental care.
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What makes catering sustainable
Creating sustainable catering requires more than just claiming it as such. To be truly considered sustainable, a catering service must meet a series of requirements that companies need to consider beforehand, during preparation, while serving, and afterward. Let’s look at some of these requirements.
There’s no sustainable catering without planning
One of the primary goals of eco-friendly catering is to optimize all the resources used. To do this, prior planning is essential. By carefully analyzing which products will be used, resources and energy can be conserved. This also helps in defining which products will be recycled, for example.
Define the source of products and materials
Food quality is crucial in this type of service. Not just any product can be included simply because it’s trendy or popular. The concept of “real food” comes into play here, meaning products that are pesticide-free, environmentally conscious, healthy, and free from ultra-processed ingredients.
Where raw materials are sourced also matters. Sustainable catering strives to buy from fair trade or local producers to avoid long supply chains.
Moreover, a fundamental ecological principle suggests that, as humans, we should consume foods grown where we live. Such foods contain the nutrients we need for that particular time of year.
What about carbon and water footprints
All production processes use water to some extent. Sustainable catering favors raw materials that require less water during production. For instance, chicken is more common on menus than beef to reduce the water and carbon footprint.
The environmental impact of transporting products from other locations is also considered, which is why buying from local stores is preferred.
Waste in eco-friendly catering
Though it’s last on the list, waste management is no less important—in fact, it’s essential. Sustainable catering must plan what to do with the waste it will produce. Naturally, efforts should be made to generate as little waste as possible, but it’s also necessary to have a plan for managing unavoidable waste.
This includes considering the tableware used. If the event is on-site, rented tableware is likely, which can be washed and reused. Alternatively, biodegradable tableware can be used and then disposed of at recycling facilities, adhering to recycling standards (for example, ensuring items are deposited clean and dry).
Another key factor is deciding what to do with leftover food, as discarding it is not an option. Will it be donated? Will it be given to the hosts to share with their guests?
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Why eco-friendly catering can make a difference at your event
If you’re considering offering sustainable catering for your event but have no prior experience, knowing two of the main benefits this type of catering can bring might help.
Projection of a responsible image
Even if your company is small and doesn’t yet have a formal Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) document, you can make your organization’s values clear from the start. Hiring an eco-friendly catering service is an effective way to do so.
Choosing this type of catering makes a strong statement about your business values.
Quality in the culinary experience
By choosing sustainable catering, you ensure that your guests will eat delicious and healthy food, which is significant. Because every ingredient is carefully chosen, only seasonal products are used, and nothing has traveled days or months to reach the table, the flavors are noticeably superior.
At La Sal, we offer a wide selection of Mediterranean-inspired dishes and menus, which we can customize for your occasion if you choose us as your catering service for your wedding in Mallorca. We specialize in all types of events, with excellence and guest satisfaction as our top priorities.
We can also create a sustainable catering service for you if desired. While not all of our services are strictly eco-friendly, we are well-versed in the concept due to our training. Additionally, as culinary professionals, we understand that gastronomy is always more enjoyable when approached from an ecological perspective, and these principles guide our daily work.
That concludes the article on “sustainable catering.” If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to return to our blog. If you need a quote, feel free to contact us anytime. Thank you for reading to the end!