|
Date: 9 September 2008
Sydney food outlet pioneers carbon offset scheme
Vietnamese food innovator Summerrolls will be one of
Australia's first food outlets to offer its customers
the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions related
to the making of food at its store.
The scheme, which will be launched next week, will
offer Summerrolls customers the choice of offsetting
the carbon emitted in making their food by a small co-contribution
at the point of transaction.
The founder of Summerrolls, Mr Minh Nguyen, says that
the initiative will be similar to those already being
offered by some domestic airline services with one key
exception.
"Unlike existing schemes, Summerrolls will match
customer contributions dollar-by-dollar with an emphasis
on shared environmental responsibility," he says.
In partnership with Young People for Development Australia
Inc (trading as Eco-Asia), an Australian supplier of
"Eco-Asia" carbon credits generated by environmental
projects in developing countries, Summerrolls will source
the credits from the award-winning French non-profit
organisation, Geres Cambodia.
Part of Summerrolls' contribution will also go towards
development projects and young leadership training in
Cambodia and other parts of South East Asia.
"At Summerrolls we believe that poverty and the
health of the environment are interrelated. That is
why we have selected Eco-Asia as our preferred supplier
of carbon credits, as it has a strong commitment to
giving poor countries a fair go," Mr Nguyen says.
Mr Nguyen, a published researcher and non-practising
lawyer-turned-cook, says that the initiative is not
intended to "green wash" his business.
"With this initiative, we're not pretending that
it will help solve the enormous and complex problem
of climate change," he says.
"Rather it is about a small business taking practical
steps within its means towards a more environmentally
sustainable future.
"However, while our contribution towards energy
conservation projects will be important, we also hope
that our leadership will inspire other small businesses
to become more environmentally aware and accountable."
Summerrolls, a Vietnamese food innovator and Australia's
first Vietnamese salad bar, is located in the Foodbase
on Park food centre on the corner of Park and Elizabeth
Streets, Sydney.
Summerrolls was recently named Best Vietnamese in Sydney
in The City News' Best of Sydney 2008 guide. It is also
a Finalist in the City of Sydney Business Awards 2008
and a State Finalist in the Small Business Champions
Awards 2008 NSW & ACT.
It was recently featured in Vietnam's most widely distributed
and influential newspaper Thanh Nien.
***
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About Summerrolls:
Founded in August 2007, Summerrolls is Australia's
first modern Vietnamese salad bar. The Summerrolls concept
is based on a vision of making Vietnam's best-kept food
and health secrets more accessible to the Australian
public. It offers a focused menu of fresh rice paper
rolls, Asian salads, pho noodle soups and gourmet Vietnamese
baguettes.
Price guide:
Vietnamese baguettes $5 - $6
Asian salads $5.5 - $7.9
Noodle soups $6.9 - $9.9
Summer rolls (three rolls) $7
About Eco-Asia:
Based in Melbourne and with networks throughout South
East Asia, Eco-Asia is a Young People for Development
Australia Incorporated initiative that undertakes to
sell "Eco-Asia credits" to offset carbon emissions
and make households and businesses green.
More details:
Website: http://www.summerrolls.com
For further comments contact Minh Nguyen on 02 9283
7771.
High resolution photos:
Available by request.
###
|
media release
