100% Renewable Energy
As of January 1, 2002, the White Dog Cafe and The Black Cat purchase 100% of our electricity from wind power, the first business in Pennsylvania to do so. Switching 360,000 kilowatts per year to pollution-free wind power, saves the emission of approximately 432,000 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide, a major cause of global warming. This is the equivalent of taking 31 cars off the road or planting 30,000 trees per year.
Solar Hot Water System
In 2007 and 2008, White Dog installed a solar hot water system with a tankless booster. Replacing the old boiler system will reduce our gas usage by one-third. It will also increase the total percentage of renewable energy used to power the restaurant and further reduce our carbon footprint.
Eco-Friendly Supplies
As a rule, if there is a recycled version of a restaurant or office supply, White Dog will use it. We purchase 100% post-consumer, recycled and bleach free paper products including napkins, hand towels, bath tissue, coffee filters, take-out containers, bar coasters, stationary and even pencils. Disposable plates and cutlery are made from
Bagasse, a renewable resource adapted from sugar cane.
In 2007, White Dog stopped selling bottled water in order to eliminate our usage of plastic and glass bottles, the long distance transport of water, and the draining of aquifers in other communities.
For over 20 years, White Dog Cafe has sourced its ingredients from local farmers. Executive Chef Andrew Brown puts his sustainability philosophy into action on the menu – all White Dog menus use 100%
sustainably harvested seafood and humanely raised meat and poultry, along with locally grown fruits and vegetables. “Organically grown produce is healthier for our customers and protects the land from harmful petroleum based fertilizers and pesticides,” explains Chef Brown.
When products are not available domestically, White Dog seeks fair trade suppliers who cultivate organic products and pay living wages to workers. Fair Trade products include organic coffee from Chiapas, Mexico, organic Red Ape Cinnamon, a company that donates 5% of its profits to orangutan habitat restoration, Singing Dog Vanilla with a partner farm in Papua New Guinea, Sweet Earth Chocolates, whose organic beans come from farmers’ cooperatives in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, Equal Exchange sugar, grown by small-scale farming cooperatives in Paraguay, and Choice Organic Tea, a pioneer in the organics movement. Organic fair trade chocolate & coffee are also available in the Black Cat.
The “Green Cat”
The White Dog’s sister business, The Black Cat, features unique gifts that are local, fair trade and eco-friendly. Products such as jewlery, picture frames and hand-bags are made from recycled bicycle parts, bottle caps, rubber tires, and billboards. A book section features sustainable farming, renewable energy and local living economies.
Recycling
White Dog recycles all glass, plastic, metal and paper through a cooperative recycling center in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.
Composting
White Dog led the way in establishing a cooperative compost program for all the restaurants of Sansom Row, becoming the city’s first restaurant compost program. Utilizing two Earth Tubs, the cafe now composts all food waste and organic materials on site to reduce solid waste. The compost is then
used to fertilize community gardens
in University City.
Waste Fryer Oil & Bio-diesel fuel
In 2001, Glenn Brendel, one of the local farmers who supply White Dog with farm fresh produce, began picking up our used fryer oil to recycle into bio-diesel. Brendel uses the fuel in the farm’s diesel powered generator to heat his greenhouses, supply electricity and run the farm’s tractor and delivery truck. This project led to a communal waste oil collection tank as a part of the recycling center.
Trap grease (the grease that is usually discarded down the drain) will soon go to the Philly Fry-o-diesel plant in North Philadelphia, where it will be converted to bio-diesel fuel.
Non-Toxic Cleaner
White Dog uses Tech21, a locally produced, plant based solvent for all-purpose cleaning, including windows & floors.
White Dog Cafe:
Sustainability in Action
Judy Wicks, owner of White Dog Cafe and a leader in the Local Living Economies movement, has established one of the most environmentally sustainable restaurants in the country. Through her long-term commitment to the triple bottom line business, Wicks measures success through environmental stewardship, positive social impact, as well as financial profit. She has proven that caring for the Earth and running a successful business need not be mutually exclusive.
Wicks, who was named Humanitarian of the Year by the prestigious James Beard Foundation and by Oprah Magazine as one of 5 Amazingly Gifted and Giving Food Professionals, explains “At White Dog, every day is Earth Day. With the current challenge of global warming, being ‘green’ isn’t about being nice; it’s about our very
survival. We are constantly developing new ways to lessen our impact on the environment.”
From our commitment to buying local sustainably harvested produce and cruelty-free meats to our compost project and our purchasing
committment to 100% renewable energy, we invite you to take a look around White Dog and find out Why We’re a Green Dog Too!
Founded in 2001 to spread the White Dog Cafe model of buying from local farmers, Fair Food is dedicated to bringing locally grown food into the Philadelphia marketplace and promoting a humane, sustainable agriculture for the Greater Philadelphia region. Fair Food projects include:
• The Consulting Project fosters business connections between family farmers and chefs, caterers, & grocers to bring locally grown produce, meat, and dairy to the Philadelphia marketplace.
• Farmer Outreach prepares farmers to sell to the wholesale marketplace by providing workshops, consultations, events, and training materials that build capacity and increase economic viability.
• Farm to Institution works to break down barriers that prevent large institutions from purchasing locally grown food.
• Philadelphia Local Food Guide, coordinated by Fair Food of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local, lists over 100 locations where consumers can purchase locally grown food. Learn more at: www.localfoodphilly.org
• Fair Food Farmstand offers fresh, sustainably grown produce, meats, poultry, and dairy from over 75 family farms Tuesday - Sunday year round.
Fair Food is a program of White Dog Community Enterprises, a non-profit dedicated to building a local, living economy in the region.
