Sep 28, 2020

HMSHost Wins Port of Seattle’s Aviation Environmental Excellence Award

BETHESDA, Md. (September 28, 2020) – Global restaurateur HMSHost is committed to making the world a better place by giving back to the local communities and innovating and investing in more sustainable practices through its Startsomewhere® program. Startsomewhere® is HMSHost’s all-encompassing sustainability program that proactively ensures sustainable practices are carried out as part of all of its restaurant operations and office spaces across the North America. The Port of Seattle recognized the company’s commitment with the Aviation Environmental Excellence Award that honors companies who demonstrate exceptional environmental accomplishments and leadership in operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and help the airport achieve its environmental stewardship and sustainability goals. HMSHost’s sustainability program includes food donation, extensive recycling and waste management, furniture and restaurant supply donations, reducing single-use plastics, and decreasing energy consumption.

“We have hundreds of private employers operating on our facilities and dozens of nonprofit partners active in near-Port communities,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “Meeting our big picture environmental goals requires all of us to innovate and invest in more sustainable products and processes. We greatly appreciate these partners for playing a leadership role in protecting the region’s environment.”

“HMSHost is proud to support local Seattleites and participate in programs that assist the community and contribute to the overall health of the environment. Most importantly, food insecurity is an escalating humanitarian crisis as a result of the pandemic and, as a restaurateur, we recognize the impact surplus food donations have on families in need,” said HMSHost Vice President of Iris Messina. “HMSHost would like to thank the Port of Seattle and our partners at SEA for helping us achieve this meaningful award.”

Led by HMSHost Senior Director of Operations Chris Keaton, efforts at SEA resulted in the donation of 9,493 pounds of food, the equivalent of 7,594 meals, that would have otherwise been composted or disposed of in local landfills and was instead provided to the Des Moines Food Bank. In addition to food, HMSHost donated surplus furniture and restaurant equipment, including commercial refrigerators, to Habitat for Humanity, Highline Schools, and small local businesses. To eliminate the need for nitrogen tank deliveries from the vendor and from the warehouse to the airport, nitrogen generators were installed at five Starbucks locations. HMSHost has also increased its efforts to reduce single-use plastics by only providing compostable straws on demand, removing straws from condiment bars, transitioning to a strawless lid for Starbucks beverages, and eliminating the use of plastic stir straws in casual dine restaurants.

HMSHost continues to advance and expand its sustainability efforts across North America by supporting local communities and leading by example to make our world a better place.