EP Food Service Action Issue

INSIGHTS THE RUSSELL PARTNERSHIP
just some of our passions – client fulfilment,
healthier eating for all and sustainable food
and beverage practice.
The Russell Partnership were delighted
to appointed as Food & Beverage and
Hospitality Consultants for Expo 2020
Dubai in 2016. A key subtheme of Expo
2020 Dubai is sustainability – specifically,
exploring techniques to pursue progress
without compromising the fundamental
needs of future generations. Dubai will
hold the world’s most sustainable Expo in
history during 2020 – sustainable thought
informed every aspect of the Dubai Expo
2020 bid, from its philosophy to the design
and construction of the site. The Russell
Partnerships appointment to Expo 2020
Dubai has delivered the opportunity to drive
sustainable food and beverage procurement,
preparation, packaging, distribution and
disposal solutions on a global scale. Over
20 million visitors will attend Expo 2020
Dubai from October 2020 – April 2021, and
through our collaboration with the Expo
2020 Dubai team there is opportunity to
educate and inspire a generation towards a
sustainable future.
Our recommendations to Expo 2020 and
all clients are bespoke and tailored to the brief
or the project. We know that personalised
guidance is the key to optimising food and
beverage processes and delivery within
organisations. Nonetheless, there are key
paradigms and practices that are universally
accepted as sustainably constructive, and as
such are often the foundations of our wider
food and beverage strategies.
Most pertinently to our role as Food and
Beverage strategic consultants is to reflect
on the food and beverage provision or offer –
however, connecting the story behind our food
to is not always easy to do. Although it can be
complex, disconcerting and most importantly,
eye opening – we seek to consider how
foods such as meat, fish, dairy and eggs are
contributing to global human inequalities,
species depletion and ecological injustice.
We understand the urgency in modifying
dietary provision and food education on an
industry level to enable efficient, effective
and crucial progress towards a sustainable
future. From our global research, we accept
and understand that animal agriculture is
responsible for approximately 18 percent
of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the
combined exhaust from all transportation.
Even without utilisation of fossil fuels across
the globe, we will exceed our 565 gigatonnes
CO2e limit by 2030, all from raising animals
for consumption. Furthermore, animal
agriculture water consumption ranges
from 34–76 trillion gallons annually and is
responsible for 80–90% of American water
consumption. Comparatively, hydraulic
fracturing water use ranges from 70–140
billion gallons annually. Our research
has concluded that three-quarters of the
world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted;
upsettingly, we could see fishless oceans by
2048 due to the 2.7 trillion animals pulled
from the ocean each year for consumption.
We note and accept that the way forward
is not necessarily about eating no animal
products at all – as this is an impractical,
...we seek to consider
how foods such as meat,
fish, dairy and eggs are
contributing to global
human inequalities,
species depletion and
ecological injustice.
unviable and unrealistic prospect. Instead,
we challenge how meat and animal products
have moved from the periphery to the centre
of human diet – something that is now a
block on creating a more equitable and
sustainable world.
The Russell Partnership recognises the
environmental impact of animal products,
from an energy, water and species depletion
aspect, however is cognisant and respectful
of people’s lifestyle preferences and taste
profiles. As such, we habitually recommend a
food and beverage provision that focuses on
fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, seeds,
legumes and beans – whilst recommending
sustainably sourced fish and lean meats as
periphery products. This is not only a step in
the right direction for sustainability, but has
excellent health and vitality value – according
to our three qualified nutritional therapists!
Whilst we often make recommendations
on food provision, our services also extend to
the procurement and preparation of food and
beverage products. The Russell Partnership
embraces and recommends innovations
within agriculture, such as Hydroponics,
where appropriate. This is the method of
growing plants without soil, using mineral
nutrient solutions in a water solvent. This
offers exceptional levels of control over
nutrients, light, water, temperature and
other environmental factors, facilitating
the opportunity to optimise growing and
maximise yields, even in limited space.
Hydroponics is very efficient in its use of
water, as the tanks and the gaps between the
plants are covered in order to reduce the
effect of evaporation. Running water below
the plants rather than overhead watering also
increases water efficiency, and all unused
water goes back to the tank and is recycled so
there are no drainage losses. Cumulatively,
this means there is potential to utilise as little
as one tenth of the water that a typical garden
would consume.
Similarly, we recognise that equipment
utilised within commercial kitchens is often
only 50% efficient. Low capital cost can
drive the choice of equipment with little
consideration for the whole life-cycle cost of
the product. As such, we recommend to our
client’s specific energy-efficient equipment,
cooking techniques and innovations to
ecologically optimise food preparation,
storage, equipment and menu design.
Our passion, drive and integrity towards a
sustainable future endures. Our innovations
and research team drive internal knowledge
of sustainability through up-to-the-minute
research into cutting edge technologies,
innovations and practices that will optimise
food and beverage solutions for our clients
in sustainable, unique and realistic ways.
We know that the future depends on
organisations and thought leaders within
large sectors acknowledging the requirement
for sustainable solutions across a multitude
of disciplines. So, let’s work together on
bringing disciplines, sectors and industries
together to drive positive change towards a
brighter, cleaner and greener world…
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