Bon Appétit Management Co. reports that it is ahead of schedule in meeting its carbon footprint reduction commitments for 2009 and is well on its way to achieving its overall reduction commitment of 25 percent by April 2010. This year the company focused on reducing beef purchases by 25%, cheese by 10%, tropical fruit by 50%, and total food waste by 20%. The food waste reduction and diversion is responsible for removing 97,000 pounds of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per week from the atmosphere. Bon Appétit holds its Low Carbon Diet Day on Earth Day (April 22) each year to illustrate how it is reducing carbon emissions. The company serves 80 million meals annually in 400 college and B&I cafés in 29 states.