The coronavirus pandemic has been our chief concern over the past year, so it’s not surprising that the issue of climate change got somewhat sidelined. However, it has recently come back into view and we are seeing it with a sharper focus. After a rough 2020, we all know it is time for some game-changing decision-making. Now, the age-old question ‘How can we make a difference?’ is still being asked. With the increasingly daunting realisation that we are causing our planet to suffer, we are all forced to think more deeply about the ways in which we are contributing to the climate crisis. The answer is to become more sustainable; that is, to maintain a healthy balance between the environment and humankind and avoid ruining the Earth for future generations.
To apply this approach to one key part of the hospitality sector, how can we make our kitchens ‘greener’? Commercial kitchens play a big part in everyday life, with many, if not most, people in the UK served by one each day. This question may seem daunting at first, with thoughts cropping up such as, ‘What about the cost?’ and ‘We can’t possibly make much of an impact, can we?’. Well, MYA Consulting Ltd is pleased to be releasing a series of articles about sustainability at the beginning of the New Year that will answer these questions. With the climate crisis very much apparent, we would like to provide some insight into the ‘green’ alternatives out there, and to demonstrate that sustainability awareness can provide financial and social benefits, in addition to the more obvious gains for the environment.
With 2021 on our doorstep, we at MYA are determined to take our own sustainability game up to the next level, with goals set to becoming carbon neutral in the near future. With the help of carbon footprint audits and other ‘green’ assessments, we can begin to understand what it will take to make this happen. We have already started to develop a ‘green’ strategy that can be tailored to each of our clients, offering sustainable design solutions, high-performance equipment choices and training advice.
What can you expect from our up-and-coming Sustainability series? From sustainable food sourcing to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the kitchen, we will cover a spectrum of ‘green’ topics. As technology advancement is so rapid, ideas that previously seemed far-fetched might actually soon be possible. With concepts such as vertical crop farming becoming reality, and futuristic, 100% self-proficient buildings on the horizon, imagine the other possibilities ahead. We hope this series will help to spark some ideas about what can be done with the tools available now and how you can do your part for the planet and your new, ‘green’ business!