Hospitality Industry Is Going Green

Hospitality industry is going green

New Zealand's hospitality industry is turning a delicate shade of green, with the introduction of new products ranging from biodegradable party plates and utensils to humane, chemical-free pest control for the kitchen.

No one likes doing the dishes after a party, but throwing away plastic plates and spoons no longer sits comfortably with those concerned about the environment.

To solve the conflict between fun and environmental concern, Epicure Trading has introduced an innovative range of cutlery and plates made from renewable bamboo and birch woods. They don't need to be washed up, but also won't clog up landfills for millennia to come.

The biodegradable dinnerware range comprises boat-shaped dishes, wooden knives, forks and spoons, rectangular plates, handy serving utensils, toothpicks, skewers and chopsticks.

"The products are perfect to use at picnics, parties or barbecues and are also an eco-friendly alternative for caterers and convention centres holding large events," says Epicure Trading owner Catherine Bell.

The range is one of several eco-friendly products that will feature at HospitalityNZ - the hospitality industry's trade show, which brings together suppliers and customers from around the country and features the latest foods, flavours, appliances, apparel, equipment and furniture.

Another new eco-friendly product featured at the show helps to keep kitchens hygienic, without resorting to harmful chemicals.

The Plug-in Pest Free device keeps rats, mice and cockroaches away by altering the frequency of the existing wiring in the building, creating an environment that rats, mice and cockroaches find uninhabitable. The units last in excess of seven years and the long-term cost savings to users are substantial.

"The benefits are endless," says NZ distributor Michele Harrod. "The Plug-in Pest Free device is cost-effective, reliable and offers a humane solution to a problem that has historically been dealt with in extremely harmful ways."

For people concerned about their caffeine intake the Italian Syrup Company will be launching Green U - a new caffeine-free sparkling green-tea beverage with numerous health benefits. "Green U is something totally different," says Italian Syrup Company director Stefano Folcarelli. "It's an energy drink that is healthy, full of antioxidants and incredibly popular with people of all ages.

"Pregnant women can drink it safely and as soon as people try it they tend to favour it over other beverages. It's been a sell-out success since I started importing it just a few months ago."

The Italian Syrup Company also acknowledges the increasing consumer desire for organic and fair trade coffee syrups and will be showcasing more than eighteen delicious flavours of syrups such as huckleberry, cinnamon and vanilla-orange at the HospitalityNZ Show this year. "Why would a customer whose preference is 'organic' coffee and tea want to add syrup containing artificial flavours, colours and preservatives? Our CE Organics syrups are the perfect alternative," says Folcarelli.

Another major attraction at this year's show is "The Great New Zealand Coffee Experience" and the number of organic and Fair Trade coffee roasters who are participating.

Among them are Atomic and Ozone, whose coffees are not just roasted locally but are also organic and comply with international Fair Trade practises.

"Ozone Coffee is fully committed to the philosophy of fair trade. Ensuring coffee growers receive a fair price for their produce is critical in the long term sustainability of the coffee industry. The movement to fair trade and organic is becoming bigger and stronger in New Zealand and there is a genuine intent on the behalf of the consumer that coffee, which is the second largest trade commodity in the world, has a level of return back to the producer or farmer," says Craig Macfarlane of Ozone Coffee, a Fair Trade licensee.

HospitalityNZ, which includes the Hospitality Show, Wine New Zealand, Telecom Seminars, the Culinary Fare and the NZ Bar Show, is to be held from 2-4 September 2007 at the ASB Showgrounds from 10am-5pm.

ENDS

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