ARAMARK Environmental Sustainability Program To Train Young Professionals
(3BL Media) September 26, 2012 - The 2012 ARAMARK Environmental Sustainability Internship Program has chosen 17 young professionals to provide them hands-on training and experience in implementing environmental solutions within a business environment. The participants engage with ARAMARK clients in the corporate and education sectors at multiple locations across the US and the UK to implement sustainable solutions.
ARAMARK, in association with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), engages youth with a keen orientation towards the environment. The 2012 class of ARAMARK interns are working at client locations in various business settings across the US and the UK. The focus of these interns is on various aspects of environmental sustainability, such as water and energy conservation, waste management, purchase, and building operations.
Kathy Cacciola, ARAMARK Senior Director of Environmental Sustainability, says: "We recognize that our workforce is evolving and changing and we are looking at ways to better engage young people by designing career opportunities around our shared interests. Today's generation want to be connected to issues and concerns they care about such as corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability. Through this program, we are tapping into their enthusiasm and sustainability expertise to help implement client solutions in this area."
A number of sustainability initiatives are being implemented with help from ARAMARK interns. Some of these initiatives include reducing carbon footprint at client locations, improving the sustainable sourcing of foods, minimizing food wastage at source, minimizing use of bottled water, and composting excess food waste. ARAMARK has inducted several interns into permanent positions to help incorporate CSR and environmental practices in even non-traditional environmental jobs.
SCA, with more than half a century of experience in youth service and stewardship, helps ARAMARK select the interns. SCA is involved in charting professional paths for promising youth to help enhance their environmental impact, address the needs of development for the modern workforce, and help the interns achieve a competitive career advantage in a challenging economy.
Jamie Patten, SVP of Marketing for SCA, says: "Sustainability is not just good for the environment, (but) it's also good for business and essential to our future. The fact that many of the first-year ARAMARK interns have already been hired into full time jobs with the company and other corporations is indicative of the program's genuine value and the important need these interns are fulfilling."
