Since we started the business in 1989, we’ve always been friends of the environment. But one particular client showed us the true meaning of “GREEN,” and we have since transformed our operations to keep Mother Earth in mind at every turn.

The Meyer Foundation, a D.C. organization that supports the non-profit community, asked us to incorporate some green philosophy into a catered event. They wanted local food and they wanted no bottled water, in an effort to cut down on the plastics used that day. We did our research for locally-sourced products and we also found a supplier that made flatware and plates entirely from bamboo, a 100 percent recyclable material.

We then bought some non-plastic, corn-based drinking cups, bamboo plates and utensils and coffee cups made only with recyclable materials. To clean up all the spills, we found napkins manufactured entirely with recycled paper. This event in early 2009 was a hit for The Meyer Foundation, and it was an eye-opener for us.

Since then, Geppetto Catering made a corporate decision to use only recycled products at all of our catering services and events. In addition, our internal operations are now 100% green. We recycle all of our cans, bottles, plastics, paper and cardboard. The remainder of our trash, which includes eating utensils, serving platters and leftover food, is turned into compost, or material that is taken from decomposed organic items and used for improving soil quality, wetland restoration and erosion control.

Our cooking oils are recycled for the production of soap, although you will not see any “Geppetto Soap” at a store near you. We have a self-contained trap system at our building that collects grease and prevents it from entering the sewage lines. All other trash we produce is provided to the local municipality for the production of various fuels.

In short, all of the waste that leaves our building and our catering events is being re-used. We are looking into solar power and the purchase of wind energy as other environmentally-friendly options down the road.