USA. Global restaurateur HMSHost has been recognised with an Aviation Environmental Excellence Award by Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport operator, Port of Seattle.
The awards are made to companies which demonstrate exceptional environmental accomplishments and leadership in operations at Sea-Tac, in doing so helping the airport to achieve its environmental stewardship and sustainability goals.
HMSHost’s sustainability programme – known as ‘Startsomewhere’ – includes food donations, extensive recycling and waste management, furniture and restaurant supply donations, the reduction of single-use plastics, and decreasing energy consumption.
Led by HMSHost Senior Director of Operations Chris Keaton, efforts at Sea-Tac airport resulted in the donation of 9,493 pounds of food – the equivalent of 7,594 meals – across 2019 that would have otherwise been composted or disposed of in local landfills. The recipient was the Des Moines Food Bank.
Sea-Tac F&B locations that participated in the food donations included Rel’Lish Burger Lounge, Dish D’Lish, Dungeness Bay, Stonehouse Café, Skillet, Starbucks and the Sports Page Pub.
“Meeting our big picture environmental goals requires all of us to innovate and invest in more sustainable products and processes” – Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins
In addition, tables, chairs, and refrigerators were donated to charity Habitat for Humanity and small local businesses from 2019 closures at HMSHost’s Wolfgang Puck Express, Seattle Taproom, Anthony’s and Vintage Washington Wine Bar.
Other sustainability measured introduced by HMSHost at the airport include removing the need for nitrogen tank deliveries by installing nitrogen generators at five Starbucks locations.
HMSHost has also increased its efforts to reduce single-use plastics by only providing compostable straws on demand, removing straws from condiment bars, transitioning to a strawless lid for Starbucks beverages, and eliminating the use of plastic stir straws in casual dine restaurants.
Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins said: “We have hundreds of private employers operating on our facilities and dozens of non-profit partners active in near-Port communities. Meeting our big picture environmental goals requires all of us to innovate and invest in more sustainable products and processes. We greatly appreciate these partners for playing a leadership role in protecting the region’s environment.”
HMSHost Vice President of Business Development Iris Messina said her organisation is proud to support local people and participate in programmes that contribute to the “overall health of the environment”.
She added: “Most importantly, food insecurity is an escalating humanitarian crisis as a result of the pandemic and, as a restaurateur, we recognise the impact surplus food donations have on families in need. HMSHost would like to thank the Port of Seattle and our partners at SEA for helping us achieve this meaningful award.”
