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Apr 1, 2026

Environmentally Sustainable Food Service in Action

Feeding students at scale each day means managing more than just meals. It also means managing waste, recyclable materials and miles on the road. At CKC Good Food, environmental sustainability is woven into our processes and systems. Because reducing costs and improving efficiency ultimately make us a stronger partner to our clients and the communities we serve.

stack of cardboard boxes for recycling
Our team prepares more than 25,000 meals and snacks each day. Behind every one of those meals are the materials and logistics it takes to make them possible – thousands of pounds of cardboard and cans, and miles on the road to get food where it needs to go. That reality comes with responsibility. And at that scale, there are opportunities for real operational and environmental impact. 

In honor of Earth Month in April and Earth Day on April 22nd, we’re highlighting the environmental sustainability practices at CKC Good Food’s central commissary. Since moving into our Eagan facility in 2020, we’ve continued to build on our efforts to reduce waste, improve efficiency and strengthen operations.

stack of cardboard boxes for recyclingCardboard recycling

A high-volume operation like ours goes through a significant number of boxes every day. Everything from canned goods to bagged products arrive packaged this way. We prioritize reusing boxes whenever possible and recycle the rest. We recycle approximately 24 bales of cardboard each month, totaling around 7,200 pounds.

bin for collecting metal recyclingMetal recycling

Canned goods like cans of fruits and legumes are a staple in school nutrition, and that means a consistent flow of recyclable metal. We collect and recycle approximately 3,420 pounds of metal every two months, supported by a trash compactor and metal recycling dumpster that gives us the capacity to collect all those cans.

blue plastic container for plastic recyclingPlastics recycling

Plastic recycling is handled through our onsite blue recycling container, which is picked up once per month. This includes items like plastic jugs and containers used in our operations, ensuring these materials are diverted from general waste streams.

stack of wooden palletsPallet recycling

A lot of the products we receive come in wooden pallets. These also add up quickly. We make sure to reuse what we can and recycle the rest.

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forklift in warehouseCO₂ reduction

We reduce emissions by optimizing logistics and selecting more efficient equipment. All deliveries are routed to reduce mileage. And we use battery-operated forklifts that don’t require the use of propane gas.

desk with computer, keyboard, mouse, and phoneElectronics recycling

Our team has developed an ongoing approach to e-waste. Once a sufficient volume of outdated electronics – such as laptops, monitors, keyboards, and printers – is collected, a pickup is scheduled to ensure proper recycling. This particularly helps keep hazardous materials out of landfills.

styrofoam bowls used for soupReducing Styrofoam Use

We’ve made significant progress in limiting styrofoam across our operations. Today, its use is extremely minimal, primarily for partners who prepare and serve pho.

As we look ahead, opportunities like composting and reducing single-use plastics remain on our radar. What we’ve already seen is this: environmental sustainability efforts don’t just feel good – they work. They help us reduce unnecessary costs, operate more efficiently, and ultimately make us a stronger partner to our clients and the communities we serve.