Pizza Parlor Takes “Green” to An Extreme - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Pizza Parlor Takes “Green” to An Extreme

04/09/09

SAN LUIS OBISO - A San Luis Obispo shopping center is quickly becoming the go-to spot for green and organic choices.  Higuera Plaza has a wide variety of shops catering to the trend like Trader Joe's, a healthy fast food joint, a vitamin shop, and Starbucks.  But, its newest tenant takes the movement to an extreme.

Pizza Fusion owner Brandon Borene says, "We are the most earth-friendly restaurant in San Luis Obispo County."  And judging by the tour we got, he and his wife Susan have a pretty good case. Just ask him what makes Pizza Fusion so green, and he's happy to show you.  Some of the efforts are commendable like; compact florescent lighting, recycled paper products throughout, and fully organic cotton uniforms.  Others show the restaurant is out in front for this movement.

"This counter is made out of a hundred percent recycled broken glass bottles.  It's made with an earth-friendly resin that holds the entire thing together," Borene said.  And if you take a close look, you can easily make out bottle edges and even some labels. 

As the tour continues, it becomes clear; the owners are serious about covering all angles of going green.  Plastics that biodegrade within 30 days in landfills, floors made out of recycled tires and, even the building's insulation is made from ground up blue jeans.

Deliveries are made in Toyota Prius hybrids, getting more than 40 m.p.g.  Even the chairs and gift cards in this place are made from recycled plastics.  Bamboo in place of wood in many cases, the list goes on and on.

The owner of Pizza Fusion says his restaurant was the tipping point at Higuera Plaza.  There are a couple of vacancies and according to Borene, the management company is looking to fill those with green or healthy living options to extend the trend.