Local brew pub offers a better way to-go
By John Bennett
May 29, 2008
Gene Beeco of Moon River Brewing Company reports the restaurant and brewery is now pouring into “corn plastic” to-go cups he describes as 100 percent compostable. He said, “We hope that other area restaurants will join us in our efforts, and I believe that in the future recyclable materials may become the law.” Beeco said Moon River runs through more than 52,000 cups each year.
A Plenty magazine story from earlier this month suggests that the “greening” of the restaurant industry is a growing trend that extends to national chains. In turn, the movement toward more environmentally-friendly cups, napkins, utensils and bags has spurred growth in the sustainable packaging industry, which is represented by groups such as the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
Switching to greener materials can represent an increased cost for restaurants. Will customers be willing to pay more if the expense is passed on to them? How many locals will decide to patronize a particular restaurant simply because it employs sustainable products and systems?
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May 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I believe that in the future recyclable materials may become the law.
I hope so. I’m astounded when I’m at a restaurant and am offered a Styrofoam to-go cup. Unbelievable. It ought to be illegal. I don’t consider myself an avid “green” advocate, just generally susceptible to common sense.
How many locals will decide to patronize a particular restaurant simply because it employs sustainable products and systems?
I would not. (The food has to be halfway decent, too. Then I’ll patronize it.)
May 29th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I applaud Moon River and their owners but I have to say this about 100% compostable cups. Unless they are taken to a commercial compost facility(of which there are none near Savannah and only a very few in the state), they will lay in a landfill and only biodegrade slightly faster than PETE plastics because landfills are designed to keep moisture out, preventing a rapid degrading of materials. Although when these products do biodegrade, they only leave behind good stuff like oxygen and organic material. You can compost the cups at home though but even that can take up to a year. One other disadvantage to compostable products is that they are NOT recyclable! So now you have a cup that is most likely made from PLA (which is derived from corn adding another couple cents to corn prices everywhere!), that cannot be recycled and can only be truly green if it is composted! There are some good alternatives out there. it just takes some looking into. Until there is a commercial composting facility in Savannah, biodegradable products will never achieve any benefit and may even be more deleterious than helpful ….like biodiesel!