Photo from New System

With about 90% of our emissions coming from Scope 3 (indirect emissions) it’s important for Mountain Burger to contract with companies that share our sustainable values and are transparent in their practices. One of those businesses is New System who we use for our laundry services. New System provides Mountain Burger with many items some of which are bar towels, uniforms, wet mops, and the napkins that you use when you dine in!

According to the National Park Service (NPS), commercial washing machines average 34.74 gallons of water and up to 910 kWh of electricity per year. That amount of electricity is equivalent to 0.394 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) or 977 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered car. 

What you use to clean and dry your laundry has an environmental impact as well. Scented liquid laundry detergent and dryer sheets contain hazardous chemicals and are responsible for producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs can have both short- and long-term health effects and have a higher concentration indoors than outdoors, further adding to that risk.

What is New System doing that’s different?

New System has enacted a range of practices to make its laundry service more sustainable, including increased energy efficiency and decreased water consumption. 

New System makes sure to pack their trucks efficiently and maintain their vehicles to maximize their load capacity which reduces fuel consumption for their deliveries. They are also dedicated to saving water by reducing consumption and reusing heat. They use the heated water that is discharged from the washing cycle to heat the pipes of the incoming water for the next load of laundry, averting unnecessary energy use and increasing efficiency. In 2015, New System installed a system to clean their water in order to reuse it for the next loads of laundry which results in 85% percent of their water being recycled. The water is cleaned to the micron level so customers can be assured that their linens are clean while using less water.

New System’s dedication to sustainability also lies outside of the laundry itself. In order to reduce paper usage, they provide online billing, invoices, and other communication when possible. The last thing we’ll share is that their large capacity machines can clean and dry up to 600 pounds of clothing which helps reduce energy consumption by being more efficient, reducing turnaround time for customers. 

Mountain Burger decided to use linen napkins instead of paper or other disposable options to help reduce our waste, and New System has provided us with a sustainable way to wash them as well. Many chores are necessary, but not always environmentally friendly and New System is one business dedicated to changing that. 

Now you can dig into your burger and fries without worrying about how your napkin will be washed. Sustainable napkins. Sustainable dining.