Centerplate Introduces Completely Biodegradable Food Service Solution For Dallas Convention Center

All Disposable Food Service Items From Cups to Flatware to Napkins to be 100 Percent Biodegradable

Dallas, TX /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the hospitality partner to North America's premier convention centers and sports stadiums, announced today the introduction of a completely biodegradable food service solution for the Dallas Convention Center. Under the new program, all of the facility's disposable food service items from cups to flatware to napkins will be 100 percent biodegradable, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the site's menu operations. The biodegradable products are currently being phased in to the Center's operations with a targeted completion date of January 2010 for all of the new items to be fully implemented.

The initiative taps Centerplate's deep expertise in implementing eco-friendly food service programs for major convention centers and stadiums across North America following its recent work helping the University of Colorado at Boulder transform its 53,750 seat Folsom Field football stadium into a zero-waste facility. For the Dallas Convention Center, the biodegradable program augments the site's position as one of the most environmentally sound convention venues in the nation and one of the few to achieve the elite ISO 14001:2004 certification, an international environmental standard which helps organizations limit the negative impact of their operations on the environment.

"When a two-million square foot plus operation like the Dallas Convention Center commits to this level of change, the benefits to the overall environment and to the health of the immediate community are substantial," said Des Hague, president and CEO of Centerplate. "As part of our commitment to becoming the number one in hospitality and a leader in sustainability, we intend to extend this biodegradable food service solution to all our clients."

Among the new biodegradable products being introduced are cutlery made from potato starch; clear colored, corn-based cups for beer and soda; and plates, bowls and to-go containers made from sugarcane pulp; hot cups that are lined with plant-based plastic; and compostable lines for trash receptacles. As part of the 'Center of Excellence' structure, Centerplate is currently evaluating suppliers with the goal of integrating a biodegradable solution across all of its client's venues. The Center of Excellence is a company-wide platform leveraging the firm's deep foodservice and concessions expertise and designed to speed creation and roll-out of customized, revenue-enhancing and environmentally conscious programs.

"It's a point of pride for us to be able to operate a world class venue offering a world class experience while simultaneously maintaining one of the most environmentally responsible facilities in the country," said Frank Poe, the director of convention and event services at the Dallas Convention Center. "Centerplate has been a key partner of ours for several years and their ability to successfully implement major changes such as this new biodegradable food service program has played a key role in our overall success."

In addition to its work with the Dallas Convention Center and Folsom Field at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Centerplate has implemented large-scale green initiatives on behalf of other major venues including the Vancouver Convention Centre and the San Diego Convention Center. Supporting Vancouver's long-standing commitment to sustainability, Centerplate uses cutlery, china, glass and cloth napkins for more than 95% of the food service functions and recycles, on average, 180,000 kilograms of materials annually, which is nearly half of the total volume of waste generated. And with Centerplate's assistance, the San Diego Convention Center recycled nearly 28 percent of their total waste in 2008 and collects cooking oil, which is recycled into biodiesel fuel. The Center also sources corn-based plastics made from polylactide (PLA) and compostable paper products free of inks and dyes.

Focused on integrating its services in ways that create extraordinary entertainment experiences, other recent Centerplate accomplishments include being crowned 'the champion of stadium food' by the May 2009 Travel & Leisure for its menu at AT&T Park in San Francisco and receiving the 'Best New Idea' award from the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) for its 'Loft' menu at the Arizona Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "craveable experiences and raveable results" in more than 140 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to Super Bowl XLII, the Belmont Stakes, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, and 15 official Presidential Inaugural Balls. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate