OBJECTIVES
Key Catering’s aim is to minimise any environmental impact caused by its own activities, and seeks suppliers and partners with similar progressive environmental policies.
Statement on Products Sold by Key Catering
1. Paper Products
- All the paper products sold by Key Catering Plc are biodegradable.
- All paper products can be recycled and all our janitorial paper products (i.e. hand drying, toilet tissue, wiping products) are manufactured from 100% recycled paper.
- In the near future (where the law allows) all our other paper based products will contain a high percentage of recycled paper.
2. Plastics/EPS Packaging
- No CFCs are used in the manufacture of these products.
- These products are not biodegradable, they are recyclable.
- EPS/foam provides a clean burn fuel from waste to energy incinerators. They do not pollute water or air by toxic emissions. Plastics contain 46000 KJ/Kg – more energy than heating oil and coal.
- When used in landfill (90% of our waste ends there) method of disposal, these products do not decompose to cause subsidence gas build up or water contamination.
- Only 3% of all oil produced is converted to EPS.
- Twice as much oil is used in the manufacture of a single pulp product than for an EPS product, so EPS products have less effect on global warming (Green House Effect).
- EPS represents around 1/10th of 1% of waste in UK waste bins.
3. PVC Products
- PVC is manufactured from Ethylene and Chlorine.
- PVC is non-biodegradable but is recyclable.
- PVC is perfectly safe for landfill disposal as for EPS/foam products.
- When PVC is incinerated, Hydrogen Chloride is released. Calculation shows that acidity entering the atmosphere -
- Sulphur Dioxide-69% (mainly from power stations)
- Oxides of Nitrogen-29% (mainly from motor vehicles)
- Hydrogen Chloride-2%
- Of these, Hydrogen Chloride emission from power stations (not originating from plastics) is 1.6% and municipal incinerators 0.4% of which only 0.2% comes from PVC.
4. Summary
- Packaging without plastics would result in increases of 300% by weight, 150% by volume and 100% in energy consumption.
- Plastics, EPS/foam do not rot and contribute to landfill stability.
- Plastics, EPS/foam in the waste stream aid the complete combustion of waste in incinerators.
- Plastics, EPS/foam incinerators are not a serious threat to acid rain or dioxins formulation.
- Food service disposables contribute less than 1% of total garbage.
Recycling
- Key Catering is an active member of ‘Saver Cup’. Key Catering recycles all packaging and paper used within the Company’s premises.
The Future
- Key Catering aim to improve the design of its own products to reduce raw material used in the manufacture.
- Key Catering also aims to detail and promote the real and definite rather than perceived impact on the environment of the products sold by Key Catering.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
Compliance
- Key Catering is totally compliant with current ‘Environmental legislation’.
Waste Management
- Key Catering – All of Key Catering’s depots do not produce hazardous waste. The packaging waste produced by Key Catering’s depots is recycled.
Energy Efficiency
- All of Key Catering’s depots are fully insulated to reduce heating energy and all depots use ‘Low Energy lighting’.
Communication of Policy to Staff
- Key Catering communicates its ‘Environmental Policy’ to each member of staff at their induction training, and is included in all sales presentations.
Transport
- Key Catering operates its own fleet of vehicles; these comply with the latest ‘Low Emission’ standards. (Euro5).
- Key Catering stores its own fuel and use in excess of 22% bio-diesel.
- All packaging waste produced by Key Catering depots is recycled. This is targeted at 100%, currently it is 84%.
- All recycling is audited by Key Catering’s internal auditors.
- All of Key Catering personnel are trained in the benefits and products available, made from a sustainable source. All Key Catering's personnel are made aware of Key Catering’s environmental targets.