Kitchen teams are well placed to help their care home get all its ducks in a row when it comes to CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility.

Manufacturers and suppliers of catering equipment, products and services are doing everything they can to be more environmentally friendly.

"Care home caterers are becoming more aware of environmental considerations, but there is still a reluctance to spend extra on energy-saving equipment, even though the lifetime cost of the machine will be significantly lower, thanks to reduced running costs," says Keith Warren, Director of CESA. "Operators should focus on sustainability in all its aspects. That means being more efficient with water and consumables such as chemicals, as well as energy".

Warewashing: "Look for a machine that offers a reduced water cycle consumption which produces the optimum balance between water usage and hygiene,"  says Bob Wood, Director, DC Warewashing & Icemaking Systems. "Look also for innovative wash pumps and assemblies that use less power but increase pressure; choose insulated boilers which will lower running costs and improve boiler recovery times; and choose a low volume wash tank that saves on water, electrical and chemical consumption."

DC's PD1300A passthrough premium dishwasher incorporates a low-volume wash tank, double-skinned hood and insulated boiler that improves heat recovery times, and water, electrical and chemical usage costs are kept to an absolute minimum while still ensuring the highest level of cleaning power and hygiene.

Now available as standard with the latest generation of rack transport dishwashers and available as an option on undercounter and hood type dishwashers, heat recovery captures exhaust heat and feeds this hot air back into the machine to pre-heat incoming cold water.

Read full article in Care Home Catering, Autumn 2016 issue ...