How green are you? Take our quiz now…

National Recycling Week may have drawn- to a close but that doesn’t mean any environmental efforts have to wane. We’re a very ethical company so we try to do our bit in all areas of the business to reduce our carbon footprint. We’re proud of all the guys that work here because they help us to help the environment. Don’t worry – we’re not about to get too slushy on you! Basically we all do our bit to help but I expect there are many other ways we can get involved. I’m sure there are lots more ways you can get involved too – unless of course you’re some sort of eco-hero. If so, you should be teaching the rest of the world!

We’ve put together the following quiz to help you ascertain how green you are. Will you be as green as Kermit the Frog or as green as my bright white trainers? Take the test to find out:

How green are you?

1) Do you tend to have…?
      a) A quick wash
      b) A bath
      c) A quick shower
      d) A long shower

(If you don’t wash at all we think you should stop doing this test and go and get yourself clean)

2) How do you travel to work?
      a) By foot or bicycle
      b) By public transport
      c) Share a car
      d) Drive my own car alone

3) How often do you recycle?
      a) Daily
      b) Weekly
      c) Monthly
      d) Very rarely

4) How green are you at home?
      a) Extremely – I use wind or solar energy, have all eco furniture, compost, drive an
           eletrical car
      b) Fairly – I use green products, install energy saving lightbulbs, monitor water and
           electricity use when I can
      c) A little – I recycle where possible and try to save water and electricity
      d) Never – I don’t recycle, I don’t use any ethical products, I’m careless with electricity
           and water

5) Do you encourage friends and family to become eco savvy?
      a) All the time
      b) When I can
      c) They encourage me
      d) No, never

6) When you buy fruit and vegetables do you…
      a) Use own grown produce
      b) Visit a farmers market and buy local or organic produce
      c) Go to a supermarket but consider the quality of the produce you’re buying
      d) Go to any store that’s nearby and buy whatever they have – probably the cheapest

7) When you go shopping, what is your bag policy?
      a) I always use my own rucksack or canvas bags to put shopping in
      b) I re-use a ‘bag for life’ that I bought previously
      c) I recycle my old plastic bags where possible
      d) I always use new plastic bags provided by the shop

8) When you wash cutlery and crockery after a meal do you…
      a) Fill a small washing up bowl and use the same water for all my washing up
      b) Put them into a dishwasher but only switch it on when it’s full
      c) Wash everything under running water
      d) Rinse the cutlery and crockery, put them in the dishwasher and switch it on even if
           there are only two items in it

9) Are you ecologically mindful about your choice of food?
      a) Yes – I grow my own food and always avoid any unethical products
      b) Somewhat – I always opt for organic and local produce
      c) Not really but I do try to buy healthy and ethical food where possible
      d) Never, I buy whatever appeals to me in the shop and I don’t pay attention to the
           product label

10) Do you ever reuse leftover food?
      a) I use leftovers for new meals, throw them on the compost heap or donate them to
           charity
      b) I use leftovers for compost only or put them in the food waste
      c) Occasionally, I use some leftovers for new meals
      d) I like my food fresh, so off my plate and into the bin straight away

Answers

Mostly as) Get yourself a medal. You’re so green I wouldn’t be able to see you in a field of green grass. You’re like Kermit the Frog or The Incredible Hulk – you’re bright green and everybody can see that. You’re not just green on the outside either – you’re green through and through. If you were food you’d be broccoli, spinach or a pea. Everything about you is green. You should have a green song written about you – “green your house with a green little window and a green corvette and everything is green for you.” The planet should be proud to have you living upon it. Ask the Queen for a green knighthood – you deserve it.

Mostly bs) I can see you’re trying your hardest to be as green as you can be and for that we are grateful. You’re a bit like an avocado. The majority of you is green but there is part of you in the middle that isn’t quite there. Having said this, we applaud you for your green efforts – you are still an inspiration to us. If you were a golf course you wouldn’t quite be the actual green, but you’d definitely be the fairway as you’re on your way to the green dream. As a person you’d probably be Shrek – not quite bright green but definitely green and definitely loveable, if a little ugly.

Mostly cs) You may engage in a few green efforts but this isn’t necessarily always your choice. Perhaps it is obligatory or out of convenience. You have a long way to go to becoming a green hero – you’re definitely not a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle just yet. If you were food you’d be a bit like an unripe banana. You’re slightly green round the edges and slightly tasteless. You’re not quite sweet enough for us to like. You need to involve yourself in some serious eco-friendly activities and start introducing ethical habits into your life. It’ll make you more attractive, better travelled and much wiser.

Mostly ds) Was there really any reason for you doing this test? I think you knew the answer before you even started. There is absolutely nothing green about you I don’t think you could turn green with jealousy or nausea. You’re about as green as my foot and at the moment that is not green in the slightest…although it could go green if I changed my habits. Currently I am wearing white Converse trainers but if I changed my shoes for a green pair I’d be laughing. Even if I opted for a pair of Dunlop Green Flash I’d be on my way to becoming a beautiful green pair of Wellington boots. Take heed of this advice. Go forward and green yourself up – for the sake of the planet and your own beauty. The opposite sex will instantly be attracted to you if you go green. Come on now, make the change everybody wants to see.

Peace, love and uber green pizza,

What On Earth

One new, recycled kitchen coming up!

We set ourselves a challenge here at What On Earth and we’re pleased to report that it’s going well – so far anyway. We’re rather proud of ourselves in this challenge so we want you to see our progress.

The past few years have been extremely successful ones for us and as a result the business is growing rapidly. (Thank you to everyone for that by the way!) Our orders have more than doubled and our customer base has become larger, which has ultimately seen labour increase as well. To deal with this growth we are expanding the business physically and are developing a new kitchen at our London HQ. It’s not going to be just any kitchen though. Oh no. It is in fact going to be made of all recycled and re-engineered materials. We are advocates of being environmentally friendly, both in and out of work, so we think it only right that our ethos should be followed throughout all of our business developments.

Work on the kitchen got underway at the beginning of June and it is all coming along nicely. The kitchen is being developed in a unit on our Battersea based business park – just across the forecourt from our current kitchen in fact. All the materials being used to build the kitchen have had a previous life elsewhere, and now we are giving them a new lease of life by recycling them. Examples of the recycled materials include:

• Re-engineered racking bars are being used to form the skeleton of the kitchen
• The staffroom is made from recycled wood panels
• The windows, doors and door frames are recycled from an old office building
• An unused loading door hatch is being utilised
• Old baking trays are being used as vents
• An old refrigeration evaporator is being used in a fan unit to circulate air around the kitchen

By using these materials we are having a positive impact on both the environment and our budget – we are reducing waste, increasing sustainability and saving essential cash. We will ensure that all the recycled materials abide by health and safety rules too. We will clad them all in white fireproof, food safe plastic.

The recycled materials have been hunted down by our eco hero, Rolf. He has spent a lot of time traipsing around London looking for bits to use, but in all honesty he’s absolutely loved this – he’s been in his element. He loves doing his bit to save the world and all of this good work means he’s pretty much ready to don a cape, mask and a pair of tights. Perhaps not the most pretty sight (sory Rolf!) but hey, he would still wear his costume with pride.

Developing the kitchen using recycled materials means we are able to save money that can be spent elsewhere. To be more specific, we are spending the money on energy efficient equipment for the kitchen – i.e. equipment that does its bit to save the environment. By installing this machinery we are avoiding unnecessary energy waste. Reducing energy usage can translate to significant cost savings. We can reduce maintenance costs on equipment and have lower running expenses. Also, the energy efficient equipment has a longer lifespan and can help create better and consistent food quality and less food spoilage. The environmental benefits of resource conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are also substantial, reducing the company’s impact on the environment. All these savings allow us to reduce labour costs, thereby meaning we can reduce the prices of our products. See – everybody benefits from our new kitchen! Among the new equipment will be new ovens and pizza presses. As a result of this we are going to look at re-introducing chilled pizzas. Hurrah!

The new kitchen is to be completed and fully functioning by the end of June so we will post updated photos next month. Eeeek, exciting!

Peace, love and brand new kitchen cooked pizza.

What On Earth

We're hiring!

We have three new job vacancies at our London HQ that we want to fill as soon as possible – driver, kitchen assistant and food techincal co-ordinator.

If you’d like to come and work for a fun loving, innovative and rapidly growing company (yes, that’s us!) and you think you have the necessary qualifications and experience to fulfill the below roles then please get in touch. Our contact details are at the bottom of this blog post.

 

Driver – 40 hours a week
Description:

• Communicating with the Logistics & Warehouse Manager on customer questions and/or issues; prepare driver notes as needed
• Loading, unloading and moving goods. Daily picking and loading
• Completing daily log books
• Overseeing vehicle and warehouse maintenance: reporting faults, checking vehicle brakes, controls, fuel content on daily basis
• Maintaining all relevant financial, HACCP and organic certification records
• Up-to-date and accurate process recording
• Adhering to organic certification rules and Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Regulations
• Effective communication between members of staff
• Ensuring any changes to delivery schedule are communicated to Logistics & Warehouse Manager
• Promoting a positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be open to input from all members of the team
• Promoting good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Reducing overhead costs through conservative use of company resources
• Supporting and cooperating with management and department staff

Requirements:

• At least 12 months experience as a driver
• Have to be able to carry and move heavy goods in the freezer
• Clean EU Driver's License
• Good knowledge of the area and ability to read maps and use technology

Kitchen Assistant – 40 hours a week
Description:

• Food preparation and manufacturing of products in accordance with general and product HACCP, SALSA food safety practices and Health and Safety rules and regulations
• Ensuring work stations are clean and hygienic at all times
• Adhere to personal hygiene policy
• Ensuring all waste is disposed correctly and put in appropriate recycling bins provided
• Adhere to company Quality Control System and conduct testing prior to release of product. Keeping record of such tests and library of samples
• Ensure appropriate “use by” and “best before” date label is attached to each product according to specification
• Effective communication between members of staff and to relevant departments
• Ensuring that if applied in the kitchen, an appropriate shelf life date is used
• Producing food up to company spec. ongoing quality control and informing/reacting to any changes to raw ingredients that might affect quality and change of recipes
• Strictly follow deadline for the daily production as specifies by supervisor/ manager
• Follow the recipe and method stated on the production card
• Assist supervisor & production manager in any task associated with producing, packaging, labelling & storing of food.

Requirements:

• Available to start ASAP
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to promote positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be opened for input from all members of the team
• Able to promote good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Willing to undergo training
• Flexible and Good attention to detail
• Punctual and a team player
• People person, “can do” attitude, optimistic, “cool head” personality

Qualifications & Experience:

• Have at least 12 months of quality experience as a Kitchen Assistant working in busy catering industry-preferred experience of food manufacturing industry
• Good knowledge of industry standards (HACCP)
• Knowledge of organic market an advantage
• CIEH Food safety qualification would be an advantage

Food Technical Co-ordinator – 2 days per week
Description:

• Ensure all technical standards are met by communicating with department managers
• Maintain technical documentation (ie specs, traceability records), update them it needed and have it available to customers
• Answer all customer technical queries
• Participate in Product Development projects
• Conduct internal audits and HACCP checks, Quality control checks
• Assist third – party auditors, EHO`s and any other inspectors during their audits
• Design labels and keep them in line with EU legislation, Organic standard and good practice
• Conducting tests when needed

Requirements:

• Available to start with us ASAP
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to promote positive working culture, encourage staff to learn new abilities, be opened for input from all members of the team
• Able to promote good working ethics: timekeeping, positive approach, appropriate behaviour, politeness, being calm under pressure
• Willing to undergo training
• Flexible & good attention to detail
• Punctual & a team player
• People person, “can do” attitude, optimistic, “cool head” personality

Qualifications & Experience:

• Have relevant quality experience in busy catering industry-preferred experience of food manufacturing industry
• Good knowledge of industry standards (HACCP)
• Knowledge of organic market is an advantage
• Food technology degree, or any other food technology qualification, HACCP qualification level 3 preferable

 

How to Apply:
If you’re interested in any of the above roles please apply by sending your CV and covering letter to Tara, our HR Administrator, for immediate consideration – tara@whatonearth.co.uk

What on Earth Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. Due to a high number of responses if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks please consider your application as unsuccessful.

 

 

 

Our pizza tasting session at Whole Foods Market

On Friday 1 June we held an organic pizza tasting session in Whole Foods Market, Kensington. Between 11.30 and 14.30 we were handing out free pizza tasters to keen customers and let me tell you this – the people of Whole Foods were certainly hungry. They got through so many pizzas that in the end we ran out!

If you weren’t able to make it to the store last week you sadly would’ve missed this little event. BUT, because we don’t want anybody missing anything we’re up to, we managed to take some pics while in the store. I snapped both Anissa and Jeremy doing their bit and got some photos of our delicious pizzas. Check them out:

Anissa looking the part

Fresh from the oven - our Pizza Basilico bubbles away

Jeremy pretending to work...

We’ll keep you posted on the next time we do a tasting event – just so you can come along and get your mitts on some of our yummy products.

Peace, love and pizza,

What On Earth