Our Philosophy
We work closely with many charitable organizations and shelters in Boston and Cambridge, giving food donations valued at approximately 10% of our net profits each year.
As a certified Sustainable Business Leader, we recycle and compost over 90% of our waste and we are happy to pick up your used catering-ware to be sanitized and reused.
We offer a wide selection of clean food options including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items. We work with local suppliers and carry Rainforest Alliance certified farm-to-cup coffee.
Bringing our values home, we provide a positive work environment and treat employees with respect. We offer health and dental coverage, as well as paid time off to all of our staff.
All of this, and more, is at the heart of the Basil Tree’s philosophy: to make a difference where we can.
Practices
Minimizing Waste
At our kitchen commissary, we collect food waste to be picked up by the City of Cambridge Zero Waste Program. Their facilities use a process of anaerobic digestion to break down the food waste into carbon that is turned into energy.
Our cooking oil is recycled into bio-fuel by Life Cycles Renewables.
We combine delivery trips and use smaller vans whenever possible. We’re also starting to add electric vehicles to our fleet!
We use Crown Uniform & Linen Service, award winning for their sustainable practices and water conservation.
Choosing Ingredients Wisely
We continually work with our suppliers to use as many local and sustainable products as possible.
We use Recreo Coffee & Roasterie, a single origin coffee from a family-owned farm that practices social responsibility. They are truly “farm-to-cup”!
We use Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate and sugar products. Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound and to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers.
The poultry and eggs we use are humanely raised, cage free, antibiotic and hormone free.
Paper Products
We have pioneered our Basil Bin program which saves countless platters, bowls, lids and serving utensils from the waste stream.
Our cutlery, plates, and cups are all commercially compostable made from by-products of wheat (gluten-free, don’t worry!), sugar cane, and corn. These products are made by World Centric, a B-corp that donates 25% of their proceeds annually to social and environmental organizations to further their work in creating a better world.
Napkins are made from 100% recycled material.
All of our paper goods and utensils are 100% compostable. All other serving utensils, platters, and lids are 100% recyclable and can be returned to us with the Basil Bin program.
We work with Recycled Paper Printing to create all of our printed materials, which are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste.
Local Sourcing
We support the development of a healthy and sustainable food system by purchasing from local businesses whenever possible.
It is important to us that all of the products we use are high quality and meet our rigorous standards.
Basil Tree is proud to work with other local businesses who share our ethos!
Below is just a taste of the locally sourced products Basil Tree has to offer:
LOCAL AFFILIATIONS
We are very excited to participate in the Sustainable Business Leader Program, a great organization in Boston which helps local businesses become more sustainable. The SBLP has helped over 90 businesses in the Boston area to become more energy efficient, help conserve water and reduce waste.
We are active members of Cambridge Local First, an organization which supports locally owned businesses and strives for sustainability and environmental responsibility.
