TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL: HoReCa
Jesper Efferback discusses how environmental responsibility can become a commercial benefit…
Those of us supplying tableware to the hospitality sector should know we are supplying a global industry with a large focus on sustainability and upcycling. And perhaps we should ask ourselves if we have the same focus on those issues?
Ever since I stepped in to a kitchen north of Copenhagen, Denmark – where I did my chef apprenticeship – I was told to reduce waste, use and up-cycle as much of the produce and raw materials as possible, while at the same time using as much local produce as possible. These have been ground rules in many kitchens around the world for decades. All these points can be (and luckily are) transferred and adopted by many manufacturing industries, as well as private households.
But honestly, what have we in the table and kitchenware industry done? Unfortunately, we must admit that we, for many years, did way too little, using production ways, margins, logistics issues and customer demands as an excuse not to initiate the needed measures in our production, supply chain, as well as commercial approach.
The good news is that for the past number of years we have been experiencing fairly large changes in the approach to sustainable production, supply chain and logistics. Some might say this is politically driven, but I have faith in our industry, so I believe it’s a combination political focus paired with strong demand from the end-users, as well as an honest desire from manufactures and brands to make a difference.
“Companies like Paşabahçe, Vicrila and Libbey Glass, as well as Bonna, Kütahya and Revol (just to mention a few) make so much effort to implement sustainable measures”
We see glass and porcelain manufactures reduce waste and usage of water, chemicals, electricity, as well as putting a large focus in the re-use of waste raw materials. Some have also installed solar power to help operate their production. We also see cutlery manufactures use locally sourced recycled steel in their production. I am also happy to see many of today’s manufactures (both large and small) in constant search of more ways to reduce both their carbon emission and their carbon footprint. I have focused a lot of my consultancy work around sustainability and environmental friendliness for many years and I have also been advocating the point that it makes financial sense to implement a sustainable approach. Not just in production but also in the approach to commercial and staffing.
The next wave we are facing is the “buy less, more frequent and local” as many retailers, as well as hospitality distributors, downscale their own warehouses and logistics. This part is handed over to the suppliers, meaning a lot of manufactures are facing a demand from their customers for smaller but more frequent deliveries and thus, more flexibility. The only way these requests can be met is if the manufactures have a lean, flexible operation and are operating locally in both their own internal logistic and supply chain, as well as order handling and shipping. These facts are underlined by the ongoing talks about the implementation of local commercial carbon footprint taxes and limitations.
Bottom line is those of us who have been talking, and advocating, for the implementation of a more sustainable, environmentally friendly production and commercial approach and mindset, have got to be proud when we see companies like Paşabahçe, Vicrila and Libbey Glass, as well as Bonna, Kütahya and Revol (just to mention a few) make so much effort to implement sustainable measures, ideas and operational features in both their production and commercial approach. Not to forget companies like Dalper cutlery working in maybe the most troublesome part of the tableware industry making a huge stand and implementing a system where 90 per cent of all the steel they use in their production comes from local European recycled steel.
At the same time as we see more and more of the manufacturers of wooden products using recycled or local wood in their production minimising their impact on the environment tremendously.
To me one of the last major hurdles we face is the massive use of virgin fossil plastic and melamine-based product. Unfortunately most of these products are manufactured in a part of the world that demands transportation over a long distance.
I know there are quite a lot of projects finding workable and more sustainable alternatives to this based locally around the world. I, for one, initiated a project in Denmark roughly five years ago, and together with a larger global manufacturer we are now close to launching the first volume products manufactured in our raw material based on upcycled plant fibres and a 100 per cent natural upcycled plant-based waste plastic material, making it 100 per cent reusable and biodegradable.
To sum up, I am looking very positively towards the future in relation to the implementation of environmentally friendly and sustainability measures in our industry. Are we there yet? No, we are not! But we have taken large steps forward and have come a long way in the last number of years.