Chick-fil-a responds

Stardate: March 14, 2014
10th Day of Lent
In which I receive a swift reply from Chick-fil-a

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Dear Mrs. Mainard O'connell:

Thank you for taking the time to contact Chick-fil-A.  You are very important to us, and we appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us. (Thank you.  I do note, however, that you did not notice my previous boycott, but I admittedly did not write a long email about it). 

Chick-fil-A has an Environmental Stewardship Team, which is comprised of members from across the organization. This team has crafted a vision: Chick-fil-A(r) has always cared about the environment and strives to have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

We are stepping up our efforts to reduce our environmental impact with our focus on responsible food in greener buildings with less waste. (how?)

Chick-fil-A's environmental stewardship position considers what matters to customers, franchise operators and local communities most: quality, value, service, innovation and trust. These core values have underpinned Chick-fil-A's business from the beginning.

For more information on our environmental stewardship plans and progress please visit our Web site at www.chick-fil-a.com/Company/Environmental. ( will follow this link below).

Again, thank you for your time and interest in Chick-fil-A.


Sincerely,

William
Chick-fil-A CARES
Chick-fil-A...We Didn't Invent The Chicken,
Just The Chicken Sandwich.
On the Web at www.chick-fil-a.com

P.S.  Please retain your report number.  This will help us locate your information should you need us again.

Report: 9503634


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From the website, the following bulletpoints:

Chick-fil-A foam cups are made from polystyrene, which, unlike traditional cold paper cups, can be recycled where facilities exist. The problem is that these facilities do not, in fact, exist.  Sure they "could" be recycled, IF that facility was here.  It is not, nor is it to my knowledge in many other places.  At present this statement is specious. 

 

We currently recycle our foam cups in 25 percent of our free-standing locations and are actively expanding the program to 80 percent of those locations by the end of 2014 and aim to be chain wide 2015.  Not my location yet.  Not in my state yet. I'd like to know more about what they mean by 'recycle'.  Because it seems to me that simply gathering items together does little good if the local infrastructure cannot support the actual recycling. 

 

For years, many of our restaurants have incorporated a more robust recycling program that not only includes recycling our foam cups, but also cardboard, plastic films and bags.  Same reply as before, these are not available here.

 

We continually receive positive customer feedback on the insulating properties of our cups. Through research and tests of a number of "environmentally-friendly" cup options, we have concluded that none serve our customers as well as the foam cup.

One thing that makes our current cups stand out is that they are recyclable. (you know, potential is not the same as actual). Most cold paper cups used in our industry are not recyclable at all, because they are coated with a substance designed to reduce leakage. Additionally, most common paper cups will not break down over time in a landfill. The most amazing thing about our recycled foam cups is that they can become everyday products people need and use like park benches, insulation and molding, picture frames and pens.
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This deserves some note on my part.  I don't want to be negative, and I'm serious when I say I appreciate the starting effort.  HOWEVER, I don't yet know of any foam cups getting recycled into amazing everyday items like park benches and pens.  At present, these foam cups leave the restaurant out a drive through window, into a culture that is unable to recycle them, even if they wanted to--and so the fact that a few restaurants recycle (in places that are not here) does not change the fact that at present these cups are not recyclable HERE, they are an environmental hazard HERE, and their lovely insulating properties still don't change the facts of their composition and recycling. 

I'm going to have to write a reply letter.  I get the feeling I'm not the first one. 
Why don't you write them a comment?

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Connect/Contact-Us-CARES
Did you see that?  They CARE.  They WANT you to write!  They have employed very conscientious, pleasant people to answer your emails.  I actually think that, over time, such customer feedback might actually have an effect.  They might, given enough pressure, see the benefit of changing their practices.  So no really, join me in disagreeing in Christian love.  No name calling, no self-righteous scripture quoting. Just plainly, why does this matter to you, as a customer and as a person of (any) faith?

Much love,
Marie