Americans use nearly 8 million tons of toilet paper a year! It’s no wonder toilet-paper manufacturers are plying consumers with more sheets, more layers, and even the added sanitation of wet wipes. As a restaurant owner or food service manager have you ever wondered if switching to green paper products is one area where you can save money?
The NRDC.org claims that forests are being destroyed to make toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels, and other disposable paper products. Seems a bit extreme, right? Whether you agree or disagree with this statement we can all agree that rethinking the way your restaurant buys and uses paper products helps your restaurant save money, as well as the environment. Using less paper helps trim your bottom line through cost-cutting and efficiency, while a restaurant recycling program can generate positive publicity for your business, giving your customers one more reason to dine at your restaurant.
Decrease Your Carbon Footprint With These Buying Tips
- Buy paper products with recycled content: Look for products with high recycled content, including post-consumer content. Post-consumer fibers are recovered from paper that was previously used by consumers and would otherwise be dumped into a landfill.
- Purchase paper products made from clean manufacturing processes: Traditional paper products are bleached to make them whiter and brighter, but the chlorine that is used in this process contribute to the formation of harmful chemicals that wind up in the air and water, and are highly toxic to people and fish. Key terms to look for when shopping for these items:
- TCF: Totally Chlorine-Free
- PCF: Processed Chlorine-Free.
The STATS Are In
- If every box of virgin facial tissues was replaced with a 100% recycled box, 163,000 trees would be saved.
- If just one roll of virgin toilet paper was replaced with a 100% recycled roll, 423,900 trees would be saved.
- If just one roll of virgin paper towels was replaced with a 100% recycled roll, 544,000 trees would be saved.
- If just one package of virgin napkins was replaced with 100% recycled ones, 1,000,000 trees would be saved.
*According to the NRDC.org
Save Your Restaurant Money – Starting Today
- Invest in one-at-a-time napkin dispensers – helps customers take only what they need.
- Install hand dryers in restrooms – this eliminates the need for paper towels.
- Stock bathrooms with only enough toilet paper for one day – you don’t want your back stock disappearing!
- Consider going digital with receipts.
- Implement a recycling program to cut-down on unneeded waste.
- Buy paper products in bulk.
Making small changes, like buying 100% PCF [processed chlorine free] paper products, is not only affordable, but takes up to 45% less energy to produce than traditional paper products.
Going green around your restaurant can go beyond just paper products. Investing in CFL or LED lights may cost a little more up front, but will last much longer than traditional light bulbs. Do you have outdated equipment in your kitchen? Manufactures offer energy star rated equipment pieces that will run much more efficiently.
We understand running a restaurant is expensive, but making a few changes can add dollars to your bottom line.