Truffles Catering has been named Green Business of the Year by the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
The flagship company of the Truffles Group, which includes Habitat Catering, Cascadia Liquor Stores, Butterfly Gardens and Canoe Brew Pub, launched a sustainability program four years ago to incorporate food, transportation, waste, energy and water, community involvement and climate action.
The chamber honoured a dozen businesses and individuals during its sixth annual Crystal Awards at Butchart Gardens, including Lifetime Achievement to longtime Peninsula Co-op general manager Pat Fafard.
For Truffles, key accomplishments have included diverting 98 per cent of daily waste from the landfill with a recycling and composting system, following a strict sourcing policy to ensure food is natural and ethically acquired from suppliers and voluntarily reporting carbon impact on an annual basis.
"Sustainability is core to the way we operate," said Alistair Eason, general manager at Truffles Catering. It has made us more successful on many counts. We have a more engaged and happier staff. We are better connected to the community and have drastically reduced our costs. Our company will always make the case for business sustainability."
The Crystal Award Winners:
Business of the Year, 1-15 Employees: Holy Cow Communication Design
Business of the Year, 16 + Employees: Peninsula Co-op
Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year: Saanich Peninsula Hospital Volunteer Program
Contribution to the Community: Panorama Recreation Centre
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Nevaeh Landscaping
New Business: Vibes Fitness
Outstanding Customer Service: Cabinet Works
Employer of the Year: BC Hazmat
New Product or Service: iBoard Canada Manufacturing Inc.
Newsmaker of the Year: Ramsay Machine
