Breaking It Down
There is a movement sweeping the globe. It is all about being kind to our Earth, or as it is now trendy to call it, being “green.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It involves the use of planet-friendly products, the replanting of trees, recycling, less reliability on oil, and so much more. Many of you in Orange have gotten involved in one way or another, and now one more person has taken big strides into making Orange (and the surrounding region) a little bit greener.
His name is David Claybar. Many of you know him as the owner and chef extraordinaire of the Old Orange Café. He also operates the Star and Crescent Moon Café located on the grounds of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Shangri La has been recognized as one of the most earth-friendly projects in the world; therefore, it is only natural that the Star and Crescent Moon Café would follow suit.
Claybar knew he didn’t want to rely on the use of paper products in the Star and Crescent Moon Café. Paper products require killing trees, which means destroying 20 years of growth and countless benefits to the planet. Claybar set out to find a more Earth-friendly resource that could be replanted annually. His solution? Sugar cane and corn. The added benefit? The products made from these resources are compostable, meaning they can be turned back into dirt within 45 days. It was a perfect solution, and now he just needed a supplier.
Claybar met with Sysco Corporation, his food service provider, and requested they start carrying these compostable products. Although they were unfamiliar with compostable products and even hesitant about the demand for them, Claybar convinced Sysco to give them a try. As a result, the Star and Crescent Moon Café now carries 27 different compostable products, including salad dressing cups, drink cups and lids, coffee cups and lids, to-go boxes, cutlery kits, straws, and stirrers. Any products that are not compostable (such as the paper sheets around hot coffee cups) are biodegradable.
Claybar’s efforts have impacted not only the Shangri La café, but also additional Sysco-affiliated companies throughout the region. ARAMARK is now using the products in their Houston theaters, and the Houstonian Hotel has also made the switch to compostable products. Because Claybar took the initiative, these companies are making a positive impact on the future of our planet.
If you’ve ever wondered if you can single-handedly make a difference, Claybar’s story is proof that you can. Sometimes it is simply a matter of speaking up.
This message was also printed in the April 2, 2008, issue of The Orange Leader by guest columnist Nikki Sumrow. You can read a new column each Wednesday in The Orange Leader discussing the latest Orange events and activities.
