Making a greener America
LSG Sky Chefs 02
NOVEMBER 2019
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LSG SKY CHEFS
Ricky Bivens, Head of Sustainability and Director of the Zero-Waste to Landfill program at LSG Sky Chefs, shares how the catering company is expanding its sustainability strategy across North America for a greener future
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M
ore than ever, climate action is an essential corporate responsibility. LSG Sky Chefs, as part of the LSG Group, is an air-
line catering company committed to sustainability, working to reduce its carbon footprint, and leading by example. Ricky Bivens, Head of Sustainability and Director of the company’s Zero-Waste to Landfill (ZLF) program, has been a driving force behind this initiative since he joined the company almost a decade ago. He initially started off in the procurement department, responsible for a number of different categories, including waste. “Waste is a huge expenditure across North America and, while there are a number of variables, there are also a number of constants,” he explained. Once Bivens assessed these variables and constants, he devised the ZLF program: “While you can’t control the cost of a compactor, you can control what goes into it.” NOVEMBER 2019
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1941
Year founded
42
US locations
12,000+
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LSG SKY CHEFS
“ While you can’t control the cost of a compactor, you can control what goes into it” — Ricky Bivens Head of Sustainability LSG Sky Chefs
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION Bivens toured all 42 LSG Sky Chefs’ U.S. locations in order to evaluate how the template of the ZLF program would need to be modified to suit local jurisdiction and federal regulations. He explains that landfill was no longer an option because the ecological damage it was causing was becoming increasingly apparent. He worked with LSG Sky Chefs’ customers and the airports in order to see how they could assist in achieving each airport’s green initiatives and subsequently surpass
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them. “As we work with the airlines, we try to adhere to and exceed their cost expectations through the ZLF system,” says Bivens. Due to the nature of working with the aviation industry across a number of states, it is also imperative to work closely with the local state police and federal authorities. LSG Sky Chefs also uses the ZLF system to work with its partners and suppliers, with the aim of becoming more sustainable. Bivens cites a partner who exemplifies how the ZLF program can create a positive effect: “We worked with a large waste company, Royal Waste, to examine NOVEMBER 2019
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘TAKE A PEEK INSIDE THE LSG SKY CHEFS CHICAGO FACILITY’ 07 its organizational structure in order
their methods. Whether it is the type of
to see how recycling could be better
plastic being used, the amount of pack-
incorporated into waste management.
aging, or their transportation methods,
Our partnership is mutually beneficial
together we challenge the vendors
as diverting from landfill benefits Royal
with ways in which they can improve
Waste, too.” Since then, Royal Waste
upon their carbon footprint. We may
has developed Material Recycling
meet with opposition but, more often
Facility machines to assist with waste
than not, they understand that if we
management, as well as reduce its
do what is environmentally correct,
carbon footprint. Bivens takes a similar
then the bottom line takes care of itself.”
approach with supply chain. “I work
For an initiative to truly take form, it
closely with our Head of Supply Chain,
needs to be embodied by the employ-
Rick Melvin, and I speak to a great
ees of a company. From a change
number of the companies that we
management perspective, Bivens
work with and question the need for
reflects that some individuals who w w w.l sg- grou p . com
Smarter Solutions for a Sustainable Tomorrow Zero to landfill. Zero carbon footprint. That’s our goal — for our clients and for our planet.
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Document Shredding
greatly opposed ZLF initially are now
enter our locations across North
some of its strongest advocates.
America, they can see our employees
Each LSG Sky Chefs location has a
embrace this ethos from the top down
“champion,” as Bivens calls them, who
to an individual level. There is a strong
is responsible for pushing innovation
level of initiative across our teams,
through the ZLF program. As the initia-
and they work from monthly tonnage
tive has had time to take root, Bivens
reports and share ideas on improve-
shares that there has seen healthy
ment.” As the program grows, it is
competition between regions as to
receiving a number of accolades. In
who has the most innovative waste-
2014, the initiative won the innovation
reduction ideas. “It has been humbling
award for Business and Environmental
to watch the program come into its
Process, which was accepted in Hong
own,” he says. “When our customers
Kong. “Winning this award allowed us 09
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Ricky Bivens Recycling has been a strong passion of mine for many years, both professionally and in my home life. In my line of work I have had the opportunity to see the impact that waste has on our world – we’re closing landfills in many areas across North America, and so I strive to train and teach everyone in our company about our Zero to Landfill (ZLF) policy. Every year since 2012 the ZLF processes that we have put in place have seen thousands of tons of waste from landfill be recycled or repurposed. As part of this, we have vendors onboard that work with us to rethink how things are packed and delivered to us. We also work closely with our airline customers to reduce waste and increase recycling processes, and we are always looking for cutting-edge equipment that enables us to raise the bar in reducing waste to landfill.
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NOVEMBER 2019
“As we work with the airlines, we try to adhere to and exceed their cost expectations through the ZLF system” — Ricky Bivens Head of Sustainability LSG Sky Chefs
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“ When our customers enter our locations across North America, they can see that employees embrace this ethos” — Ricky Bivens Head of Sustainability LSG Sky Chefs
NOVEMBER 2019
to set a precedent across our international markets,” he says, adding that it has also received a number of local awards, largely from airports, across its units in Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, Portland and more.
CREATING A GREENER FUTURE Though the initiative started out as Biven’s “baby,” he is humbled to see how it has grown into a company-wide responsibility carried on by every member of the staff. “Though we still have a long way to go, we have already come very far, and the ZLF program is starting to generate a lot of attention. As he looks to the future, Bivens is pushing to introduce the Ompeco in the US, a machine used across Europe that features impressive waste-reducing capabilities of up to 80%. Though he expects to meet some pushback with the emergence of this machine in the States, particularly from waste companies, he asserts that it is the best thing environmentally and will assist the LSG Group in fulfilling its role in addressing climate change.
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Sky Chefs, Inc. d/b/a LSG Sky Chefs (part of the LSG Group) LSG Group Americas Regional Headquarters: 6191 N. State Highway 161 Irving, TX 75038 T +1 972 793 9100 www.lsg-group.com