Sustainability
ONGOING POSITIVE IMPACT
Nobody Can Do Everything, But Everyone Can Do Something
Sustainability is about making choices that make things better—for us, for our community, and for the planet and all who live on it. Every little bit counts, so we strive to amplify our positive impact wherever we can, through responsible business practices that let us do more—and do better—while using fewer resources.
Our venue partnerships with sustainability-minded organizations bring these greater public recognition and additional operating income, thereby supporting their own sustainability-related missions.
We cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and supportive community for our employees so that each person can thrive and contribute to our many positive-impact initiatives, from recycling, composting, and waste reduction to local sourcing, plant-forward menus, and community give-back activities.
And, we run the company in a fiscally responsible manner, such that we’re always positioned to “do the right thing” and to keep finding additional opportunities to “do well while doing good.”
Celebrate at Places that Matter
A "Win-Win-Win" Business Model
Our most important contribution to sustainability may be the partnerships we foster with our many exclusive catering venues.
Most of these venues are owned by organizations with strongly sustainability-oriented missions of their own—waterway and habitat protection, for example, or cultural and historic preservation, or conservation education. We invest in these properties to help transform them into distinctive event spaces. The rental revenue from catered events flows directly back to the venue owners to help fund their worthwhile missions.
Such events also bring each organization and its mission a great deal of public exposure—a kind of “friend-raising” that is just as important to nonprofit organizations as conventional “fund-raising.”
The result is a very win-win-win arrangement: We prosper by doing what we love (catering and hospitality!). Our venue partners gain financial support and recognition for their own sustainability-oriented missions. And our clients have the satisfaction of choosing to host their events in places that truly do make a difference.
Practices in Action
Other Sustainability Initiatives
Reduce Waste
As a caterer it would be inhospitable to run out of food, but neither do we want to waste any by making too much. By now we’re pretty good at “right-sizing” our food quantities, and the small amount of leftovers we do have we put to good use in our robust staff meal program, where our creative chefs turn them into lunches feeding up to 90 people on any given day. Peelings, table scraps, and other true unusables we stream into our composting operation at our Waterloo Village organic farm, converting it all back into nutritious soil to grow new food. And, of course, we send all the cans, bottles, and cardboards that pass through our doors to our waste handlers for recycling (because who wouldn’t recycle these when it’s so easy?).
Source Locally
Locally sourced food products inherently have a lower transport-related carbon footprint. They’re likely to taste better, too—a New Jersey tomato plucked from the vine at peak ripeness and served a few days later is bound to taste better than one picked green, forced into “ripeness” with ethylene gas, and trucked across many state lines. The local farmer who grew it is well compensated, too, which supports our local farming community. We are, of course, realistic about the fact that many products are only available from far away, but we do try to stay local whenever we can, including sourcing fresh produce from our organic farming friends at Waterloo Village and Rancocas Creek.
Reduce Plastics
Like most caterers we rely on plastic containers and plastic wrap to help transport food safely. But the problem with plastic is that it never goes away; too often it ends up clogging waterways, harming wildlife, and contaminating our water, food, and air. With that in mind, we’ve replaced single-use deli containers with a more durable, highly reusable new type. Even better, these are designed so they don’t need to be swathed in layers of plastic wrap to prevent spillage during transport. Our purchase of single-use deli containers is now approximately zero, and we’ve roughly halved the 97 miles of plastic wrap (yes, 97 miles worth!!!) we used to use each year.
Promote Plant Forward
Fruits and vegetables have a much lower environmental impact footprint than animal-based proteins do. That’s one great reason to embrace “plant-forward” dining, whether it means purely vegan or vegetarian meals or simply putting a little less meat (and more great vegetables!) on the plate. The good news is, in the right hands plant-forward food is just as delicious and satisfying as animal-based cuisine. We wholeheartedly support any and all of the various reasons for adopting a plant-forward lifestyle, and that's why our menus feature an extensive selection of very tasty plant-forward options!
Take Care of People
Fostering a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace is also a key to sustainability. Employees who feel valued, empowered and supported tend to stay longer, feel deeper job satisfaction, and are better positioned to help us run and grow the company in the best way possible. We believe that investing in our employees is key to attracting and retaining top talent. By prioritizing personal and professional growth, we build a resilient and innovative team that helps ensure our long-term success and sustainability.
Give Back
In 2024, we launched the JAM Giving Committee with the goal of making a positive impact in our community. In 2024 we volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Philabundance, hosted a Juneteenth BBQ, walked in Philly Pride, run for CHOP, donated 1,800 diapers in Upper Darby, sponsored 3 voter registration drives and offered food at 8 polling places on election day, and organized donation support for the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to give back and will always embrace opportunities to do so.
More Sustainability Practices
At JAM
Explore The Dish to view other sustainability practices built into JAM events.
26 Oct 2023
Catering
From Scraps to Soil: Composting at Waterloo Village
How composting at Waterloo diverts food waste from landfills.
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