GHP Comment:  A perfect example of a business listening to their customers and taking action – and by aligning their business with their customers desires, binding them as customers – this is not alone environmentally sustainable its financially sustainable – even if there is an extra cost for the service.  It is a pity that so few tourism and hospitality businesses lack the same vision.

Irish Times – Saturday, 7th July – – Marie Claire Rigby     

Slice of sustainability

The Dough Bros woodfired pizza business in Galway gets through 200,000 brown bags, the same number of disposable knives and forks, and 150,000 paper napkins each year. Now, thanks to sixth class students at Scoil Íde in Salthill, who were investigating sustainability and wrote letters to some of their favourite places to eat, the business has made the switch to biodegradable.

?I was blown away by the letter,? says Eugene Greaney, co-owner of The Dough Bros. ?As soon as I read it, I ran down to a local cafe, Gerona. I knew they were using combustible disposables and asked for information on the supplier. Within 20 minutes I had rung the supplier, Vegware, arranged a meeting and a quotation on changing our cutlery, napkins and brown bags.?

?The students in Scoil Íde are our customers and we are so encouraged to see this next generation taking action and telling us how to be better,? says co-owner Ronan Greaney.

The restaurant is investing significantly in the students? suggestion. ?It?s a huge shift and it comes with a cost, but it?s not all bad. The cutlery, for example, is four times the price, but we will encourage people to use less. It?s up to us to educate our staff and customers,? Eugene Greaney says.

?The response alone was good, but the fact that the students can see that they made real changes happen will show them that each and every one of them can make change happen,? said Ms Conneelly, the students? teacher.