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Earth Today | CB Foods PAN Finals goes eco-friendly

Trades plastics for plant-based ware

Published:Thursday | August 28, 2025 | 12:08 AM
Lisa Henry (centre), people and culture officer at Mother’s, gives an eye to the packaging of meals from Alexia Levy (left) and Scyleen Hylton, also of Mother’s Catering, done in recyclable containers. The occasion was the PAN workshop, hosted at G.C.
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Lisa Henry (centre), people and culture officer at Mother’s, gives an eye to the packaging of meals from Alexia Levy (left) and Scyleen Hylton, also of Mother’s Catering, done in recyclable containers. The occasion was the PAN workshop, hosted at G.C. Foster College in July.

PATRONS ARE to share an eco-friendly experience at this year’s CB Foods PAN Finals, to be held on the Jamaica College campus in Kingston this Sunday, August 31.

Thanks to CB Foods’ eco-partner, We Alter Eco Limited, the event – which is to see some 32 men and women put their culinary skills to the test for the coveted titles of ‘best pan chicken’ and ‘best pan pork’ – is swapping out plastics and styrofoam for 100 per cent compostable bamboo plates and cutlery.

“At CB Group, we are committed to making a difference for people and for Jamaica. Sustainability is central to that mission, because it’s about protecting the country we’re proud of today while preserving it for future generations. Through PAN, we’re not only serving good food and creating memories, but also encouraging recycling, responsible waste management, and safe, eco-friendly practices,” said Nicole Hall, senior commercial marketing manager at CB Foods, in a release to the media.

“With We Alter Eco on board as our environmental partners, we’re giving patrons a clean choice, compostable plates, cutlery, and better waste solutions. For us, PAN has always been about more than food. It’s also about raising the standard for how events are run in Jamaica, cutting back on single-use plastics, and encouraging everyone to play their part in keeping the space clean,” she added.

Suraj Buxani, managing director of We Alter Eco Limited, said his company supplies products with polylactic acid (PLA), which is a bioplastic made from renewable resources such as cornstarch, sugarcane or cassava. These bioplastics are compostable and have a lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based plastics.

“We Alter Eco is delighted to support PAN 2025 with our eco-friendly products. This partnership reflects our mission to reduce single-use plastics and provide the food service industry with sustainable alternatives,” Buxani said.

“Over the past six years, We Alter Eco has worked with restaurants, hotels, and major events across Jamaica to make greener choices easier and more accessible. We’re proud to be part of this celebration of food and culture, while helping ensure it’s done in a way that’s better for the environment,” he added.

Also on PAN’s eco-friendly journey is Shannon Singh, managing director of Clean Choice Events Jamaica.

“I have a real passion for a better Jamaica, and, for us at Clean Choice, it doesn’t matter if it’s a small private function, a massive public event, or something in-between, we bring the same focus on keeping spaces clean and ready for a new opportunity,” Singh said.

“Jamaica College is a beautiful venue, and it’s our responsibility to leave it better than we found it. That’s why, for PAN, we’ll have a strong team, recycling bins, waste separation stations, supported with clear signage in place to make it easy for patrons to do their part,” the Clean Choice boss added.