- Michael Oshman
Green Restaurant Distributor™ Feature: Imperial Dade
Imperial Dade was the Green Restaurant Association’s very first Green Restaurant Distributor™ based in New York City. They specialize in green disposable and chemical products for a variety of industries. Their product line includes non-toxic cleaning chemicals, recycled products, and compostable containers.
All of Imperial Dade’s products are vetted by the Green Restaurant Association. At the top of their website, restaurants can click the Green Restaurant Distributor™ logo to see hundreds of green products, all of which meet one of the GRA's environmental standards. Transparency is essential to being a Green Restaurant Distributor™. That is why every product on the list shows what environmental standard it meets, its environmental attributes, and how many GreenPoints™ the product is worth.
We had the pleasure to speak with Laura Craven, Director of Communications at Imperial Dade, about sustainability and their Green Restaurant Distributor™ designation.
What does sustainability mean to you? Waste not, want not. I remember my grandparents using that phrase often. They practiced the 3 Rs: Reduce, reuse and recycle out of necessity during the great depression. Fast forward to 2017, that common sense approach still rings true.
What environmental issue concerns you the most? Waste disposal. With so many compostable foodservice products available, it is a shame there are so few commercial composting facilities. Recycling programs are readily available, but unfortunately trash ends up in those recycling bins which contaminates the load. That is frustrating!
Have you seen the market change in terms of restaurants’ desire for green products? If so, how? Over the last ten years, restaurant operators have become more interested in sustainability for a variety of reasons. Some restaurateurs are personally passionate about greening their establishments. Others are making changes to satisfy their customers, and some are complying with local ordinances that prohibit certain foodservice packaging. Imperial Dade provides the consultative support and the wide range of product options to suit every restaurant’s unique needs and goals. Green cleaning has become more popular as well. Operators are now comfortable with the efficacy of the cleaning solutions, and given that they are-cost neutral, there is much more acceptance.
Why did you decide to become a Green Restaurant Distributor™? We see the value in industry associations that offer resources to their members. There is a great deal of misinformation about sustainability. The Green Restaurant Association helps restaurant owners cut through the noise and find the correct information, quality green products and services they can trust. We are proud to be a Green Restaurant Distributor™!
What advice would you give to a restauranteur that is looking to source more green disposable and cleaning products? Partner with a supplier that has experts available to work side-by-side with you on your sustainability goals. Someone who understands your operational needs, local ordinances, and target market. There are many product options available, but not all may be right for your menu items, your clientele, or your budget. An experienced supplier can guide you in making those choices wisely.
What is one green product that you would like showcase? One product line that I really like is BottleBox. These are to-go containers that are made from recycled PET beverage bottles. They come in a variety of bright colors and different shapes and can be recycled again and again. They help our customers differentiate their products in a crowded marketplace.
To learn more about Imperial Dade and their green products, please visit www.imperialdade.com. To go directly to their green products list vetted by the Green Restaurant Association, go to http://bit.ly/2w9ivLm. If you are interested in becoming a Green Restaurant Distributor™ or learning more about the GRA, please contact us at outreach@dinegreen.com or (617) 737-4422.