Baja Fresh introduces new greener packaging at some locations

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill is launching their 2010 "Earth Fresh" initiative. Baja Fresh is introducing recycled napkins, recycled paper bags, recyclable burrito wrapping paper, and biodegradable plates in eight restaurants, including their Cypress, Westlake Village, Simi Valley, Beverly Hills, Tustin Marketplace, South Irvine, and Lakewood, California locations.

Understanding the current environmental climate and consumers' desire to preserve resources, Baja Fresh President Charles Rink confirmed "the chain is taking a more aggressive approach towards educating customers about the importance of recycling and preservation of natural resources, while maintaining the integrity and quality of the products in which we serve our food."

All Baja Fresh paper bags in the aforementioned restaurants now contain a minimum of 40% postconsumer material derived from newspaper, magazines, pressroom trimmings, shavings, and overs, as well as sorted residential mixed waste papers. Papers utilized are not made with processed chlorine or its derivatives, and converted papers are FDA compliant.

The new plates are designed to disintegrate and biodegrade swiftly and safely in a professionally managed composting facility. The plates are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI identifies products that meet stringent scientifically based specifications for compostability) and the natural fibers with which they are produced are a byproduct of wheat harvest. This type of renewable resource is an excellent alternative to polystyrene foam and conventional molded fiber.

The production and use of natural, unbleached burrito wraps versus bleached paper wraps have significant impact on the world's resources including: a 46% reduction in waste water, 21% reduction in wood pulp use, 16% reduction in solid waste, and a 10% reduction in green house gas production. For every 1,000 tons of natural paper produced versus bleached paper of the same weight 6,089 trees will be saved, 15 full swimming pools of wastewater will be removed, and 13 garbage trucks of solid waste will be eliminated.

In response to the company's strides to be more environmentally conscious, Baja Fresh President Charles Rink stated, "Baja Fresh recognizes the importance of the earth's resources and our customers' penchant to conserve them. By offering our products in biodegradable, recycled, and recyclable packaging, not only are we meeting the requests of our guests, but also those of the environment. We will continue to seek environmentally friendly solutions for additional products used in serving Baja Fresh menu items, and we look forward to the success of the current products in test. We hope to offer them companywide within the year."

SOURCE: Baja Fresh  

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