At Charleston Wine + Food, we use our core values as our true north, the heart of what we do. We strive to be a good steward of our city and it’s culinary community and create a more sustainable + environmentally friendly festival year-after-year.
What you eat and where it comes from can have a lasting impact on the environment. Members of the culinary community are constantly innovating to promote sustainable foodways, and we are proud to feature + advocate for some of these practices within our event schedule and festival programming. Regenerative + restorative farming, aeroponic agriculture, sustainable oyster farming, and other innovative practices are creating new agricultural systems that keep our planet top of mind and have been topics of focus at our events.
As an organization, we are committed to producing experiences that educate, enable, and inspire all participants + attendees to protect the environment. We strive to produce the most sustainable + environmentally-friendly festival possible year-after-year, and we advocate + promote sustainability in the following ways:
Compost
We are committed to using 100% compostable or reusable serviceware and work with a local compost company to compost at all festival events.
Reduce
Through efforts like going strawless, offering napkins upon request, implementing water usage protocols in our prep kitchens, digitizing handbooks + documents, launching a festival app, and implementing eco-friendly cleaning materials, we have made considerable efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
Recycle
Festival items that cannot be composted are recycled, and wine bottles from the Culinary Village become recycled glass countertops and “foam glass” to be used in building + construction. Additionally, all oyster shells are recycled in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources.
Program
By skipping meat one day a week, Americans could save an estimated 100 billion gallons of water each year. During the 2020 festival, we presented a day of programming that was completely plant and sustainable seafood-forward to advocate for the importance of decreasing harmful carbon emissions and in support of a food system that is more sustainable for our planet.
Reuse
Over 75% of all design elements are reused year-over-year or rented, and reusable commemorative wine glasses are distributed to guests during many events. Lastly, all leftover food product that is suitable for donation is given to One80 Place, which helps feed homeless individuals in Charleston.
As we continue celebrating Charleston’s renowned culinary community and look ahead toward the 2022 festival, we are excited to celebrate the collective spirit of our community and champion a more sustainable culinary experience for all.