that damage the environment. There are plans
for a standalone, solar-powered Burger King
outlet. Other power-saving initiatives are
already in place, like electric cars for Peppes
Pizza’s delivery service. The company is also
aiming to use electric bikes and driverless
vehicles in the near future.
Some of Umoe’s roadside locations have
been equipped with charging stations for
electric vehicles. Sverre says these facilities are
aimed at the broader community and not just
customers. “They don’t have to eat, they can
just charge up; that’s okay.”
The company has also been looking into
reducing its use of palm oil, a widely used
vegetable oil that is linked to large-scale
deforestation. “The oil itself is not a problem,
but its production process is. Our producers
have set up a system where we can guarantee
the palm oil is not hurting the rainforest.”
Another environmental issue is plastic
usage, something Umoe Restaurants is
conscious of. It has reviewed its value chain
to find ways to reduce the amount of plastic
used and to reduce disposables, both in the
production chain and in restaurants. It’s
another material the group is trying to move
away from. As Sverre points out, if current
consumption trends continue, there will be
more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
“This is emerging as a long-term problem.
We are seeing whales dying because their
stomachs are clogged with plastic. And
submarines have found plastic 7,000 metres
below sea level.
“The problem with this material is that
it never goes away in nature. The pieces
become very small, and at the end, you can’t
see it. It takes 1,000 years, but it is still there.
It’s in every water resource and that’s why
we end up with a lot of plastic in our own
bodies. It’s a problem in terms of human
health, animal welfare and the environment.”
To tackle this issue, Umoe has worked
with multidisciplinary EAT Foundation
to further the aims of the sustainable foodto comeHalf page advert
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