Diners left cut-up as Buzz go green

FRIDAY, OCT. 5: New environmentally friendly cutlery made from wood is causing a stir with customers at Buzz.

The catering chain introduced knives, forks and spoons made from sustainably sourced wood from Scandinavia in all of its outlets just last week.

But the move has prompted anger and unfounded complaints from some islanders that Buzz is trying to cut costs.

Executive chef, Jason Berwick, has been the driving force behind the go-green project, which has also seen Buzz bring in compostable packaging and starched base cups.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “We have been really surprised by the reaction this new cutlery has received. Some people have been swearing about it while others have accused us of cost cutting.

“The reality is that this new cutlery, that comes from Europe, is actually more expensive for us to bring in than the corn starch plastic we had before.

“But we believe in this kind of thing and this move is all about doing something for the island’s environment. This wood is sustainably sourced and will break down naturally over time unlike plastic.

“It’s taken a year and a half of negotiations to get it here so we were extremely excited about bringing it in to Bermuda. We thought people would take to it instantly because it’s good for the environment and cuts down on wastage but maybe we were naive.

“This product has taken off in the US and Europe and we still believe it will prove successful in Bermuda.”

Buzz’s environmental stance has drawn praise from Greenrock president, Judith Landsberg.

She said: “Greenrock celebrates Buzz’s decision to change its packaging, utensils and cups to more environmentally friendly products.

“Moving to compostable packaging, starch-based cups and sustainably sourced wooden cutlery not only cuts down on our use of scarce resources, but also reduces the toxic chemicals that are released into the air at Tynes Bay when plastic is burned.

“There is some evidence that chemicals from plastic packaging can leach into our bodies, so supplying plant-based packaging is healthier for us.

“Buzz is a leader in our community in this regard and is taking a responsible and thoughtful stand, which will make our environment here in Bermuda healthier and will also protect our planet by reducing our reliance on fossil fuel.

“We continue to be impressed that while they are choosing disposable products that are better for the planet, they are also encouraging re-use by selling re-usable containers, encouraging customers to bring their own containers and bags and using durable, rather than disposable supplies in their catering business.”