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- Environmental Stewardship at ARAMARK Parks and Destinations
ARAMARK Parks and Destinations has the privilege to operate in some of North America’s most treasured places. From National Parks,
National Forests and State Parks, we welcome and encourage you to get outside, explore and discover something new these special places
have to offer. Whether it be seeing a new species of wildlife, taking a walk and listening to the sounds of nature, or seeking deeper meaning
by understanding the fragile relationships between us and nature, our nation’s parks can teach us much about the world around us.
ARAMARK Parks and Destinations recognize that our nation’s parks have been set aside to preserve and protect key elements of our local
and national heritage. From whole ecosystems such as Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, to the archeological sites that preserve
glimpses of the Ancestral Pueblo people at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado or the stunning vistas of fall foliage at Shenandoah National
Park in Virginia, we also recognize we have a responsibility to operate in an environmentally sensitive and more sustainable manner.
As a framework, our environmental stewardship program, Green Thread™, provides a means to assess, improve and measure our environmental
performance in each area we operate.
At the core of Green Thread™ is our Environmental Management System, or EMS. At all of our Parks and Destinations locations the EMS
conforms to, or is certified to, the rigorous ISO 14001 standard for environmental performance. As a process, we assess our business activities
and determine any associated environmental impacts. For those impacts that are determined to be significant, objectives are established
to improve performance. We then monitor and measure our progress, and report our results. In 2009, programs and projects implemented at
various sites helped us to achieve the following, as compared to 2008:
1. A reduction in electricity use of 5,242,040 kilowatt Hours, or a decrease of 16%
2. A reduction in water use of more than 12 million gallons, or a decrease of nearly 5%
3. A decrease of landfill trash of nearly 670,000 pounds, or a decrease of 19%
4. An increase in recycling of nearly 1.4 million pounds, or an increase of nearly 7%
5. An increase in diverting nearly 13% of total waste from local landfills, because of the results achieved in items 3 and 4 above.
While our environmental programs have made significant strides to lower resource use, we are also looking at our overall supply chain with
an emphasis on sustainable food, service ware and paper product choices. As an example, we have been partners with the Monterey Bay
Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program since 2007, and in 2009 nearly 60% of all fish and seafood purchased met the standards for Best and
Good Alternative choices. And that is what Green Thread™ is really all about… Providing our customers better, more sustainable choices
and providing our operations better, more sustainable solutions.
While these results demonstrate our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and improved performance, we recognize
environmental sustainability is not a destination, but an ongoing journey. While we’ve taken many important steps toward reducing our
footprint, our ongoing efforts ensure even greater success in the future.
Making a Difference at Lake Quinault Lodge
The Lake Quinault Lodge has a long history of being in harmony with the environment. Many of the efforts you will see here at the Lodge
are driven by what we have determined to be significant environmental aspects.
Water
Water is a very scarce resource globally. To date, the programs that have been put into place to lower our water usage include:
• Low-flow toilets • Low-flow shower heads (1.5gpm)
• Aerators on all water faucets • Catering-ice reuse program
• Towel reuse program • Linen reuse program
• Water conservation education in all rooms
Do your part...
• Take a short shower - a five-minute shower uses less than 10 gallons of water. If you need more time, turn off the shower
while you deep condition your hair or shave.
• Take a shower rather than a bath - it uses much less water. If you prefer a bath, don’t fill the tub.
• Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth or wash your face instead of letting water just run down the drain.
• Fill the basin with water while shaving rather than letting the faucet run and you’ll save up to 5 gallons of water.
Waste
Lake Quinault Lodge has an aggressive goal to divert 90% of all waste by the year 2015. We already have a recycling program in place to
divert all paper products, plastic, glass, metal and E-waste. Additionally, we offer free recycling to the entire Quinault community.
You can do your part by using the recycling bins that are in your room or placed throughout the property. The recycling program is classed
as “co-mingled,” which means that you don’t have to sort it. All recyclables can go into a single bin. Please do make sure that any food
containers are cleaned of all food scraps before placing them in the recycling bin.
Food
Food is a large part of the experience here at Lake Quinault Lodge. To that end, we participate in several programs and have a goal of
continued improvement for food quality by:
• Participating in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program
• Creating seasonal menus that use produce specific to the Northwest and the
growing seasons to take advantage of what is available locally
• Acquiring all coffee products from Fair Trade and Shade Grown sources
• Purchasing natural meats that are organic or local whenever possible.
• Using only foods that contain no trans fats
Purchasing
Every aspect of what we do here at Lake Quinault lodge can impact the environment in one way or another, including how and what we
purchase. Where it is feasible to do so, we purchase products made in the USA, and favor vendors who have sustainable packaging and
products with recycled content. Several examples of this include:
• Paper - All paper purchased that is used on property is a minimum of 30% post-consumer waste, and most of
it is 100% recycled paper.
• Service ware, such as to-go cups, plates and cutlery, is mostly compostable and by the end of 2010 everything used for catering,
events and grab-and-go food will be completely compostable.
• Furniture and renovations - As we upgrade furniture and renovate the guest rooms, meeting spaces and living rooms on property,
we look for products that are sustainable in their manufacturing process and environmentally friendly.
This includes items such as:
• Carpet - All replaced carpet has recycled content and will be recycled at the end of its life cycle
• Paints used are all low VOC (volatile organic compound) and water based
• Dyes used in fabric, carpet or wall coverings will be vegetable-based when possible
• Materials being discarded during the renovation process will be recycled or reused whenever possible
• Vehicles - All gas vehicles will be replaced with electric or hybrid-fuel vehicles
• Printed materials, such as brochures, maps and in-room messaging, is all printed using recycled-content paper and with
plant-based or soy-based inks
Purchasing products from local sources within 150 miles of the Lake Quinault Lodge
Energy Consumption
In the same way you strive to save electricity and gas use at home, Lake Quinault Lodge also has many energy saving programs in place:
• All light bulbs are compact fluorescent where possible and a transition is being made to LED lights for
even better energy efficiency.
• Where feasible, automatic light switches are in place.
• As appliances fail, new appliances are being replaced with ENERGY STAR® - rated products.
Grounds
The Quinault Rain Forest is an amazing place anytime of the year. Though the National Weather Service says the Quinault Valley is the wettest
place in the lower 48 States, summer weather is typically clear blue skies and 75-80 degrees most days. At the same latitude as the State
of Maine, Quinault residents can actually raise palm trees due to the moderating influences of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
The Quinault Rain Forest is spectacular anytime of the year. The trails through the old growth forest humble you as giant trees, some over
1,000 years old, stand like sentinels along your way. In fact, the Quinault Valley is also known as the Valley of the Giants because six of the
world’s largest trees of their species live here. Magnificent Roosevelt Elk roam freely through the forest and meadows and frequently watch
you as you drive along the loop road, sometimes making you stop your car as they cross the road in front of you. During the fall huge bull
elk challenge one another, locking antlers in a display of strength and dominance.
Many visitors believe the forest to be at it’s most beautiful during the late fall, winter and early spring rainy season when the epiphytic
mosses growing in long strands from the tree branches turn brilliant chartreuse. Big Leaf Maples form a dense canopy of giant yellow
leaves over the forest in the fall and Vine Maples burst into brilliant orange, salmon, yellow and red every fall. The King, Coho, Sockeye
and Chum Salmon return to spawn in the late fall and can be seen along the small tributaries of the Upper Quinault River as they spawn in
the shallow water Up to 100 Bald Eagles frequent the valley during the winter return of the salmon and enjoy this important food resource.
The Quinault Rain Forest provides a field day for photographers of all skill levels year round. Go play outdoors!
