Environmentally Friendly Tips For Restaurants
Sustainability has become an increasingly important topic in the restaurant industry. Customers are more conscious than ever before about the impact their dining choices have on the environment. Restaurants adopting sustainable practices is not only good for the planet, but it can also reduce costs.
We are going to explore some of the best sustainable practices that restaurants can adopt to reduce their environmental impact.
Source Local and Seasonal Ingredients
One of the easiest ways to reduce your restaurant’s carbon footprint is to source local and seasonal ingredients. By doing so, you reduce the distance that food needs to travel to get to your restaurant, thereby reducing transportation-related emissions. Additionally, local and seasonal ingredients tend to be fresher, tastier and more nutritious, which is a win for both the environment and your guests.
Reduce Food Waste
Reducing food waste is another effective way to make your restaurant more sustainable. Consider donating excess food to local charities or composting food scraps instead of sending them to landfills. You can also adjust your portion sizes to reduce waste and consider offering discounts to customers who bring their own reusable containers to take home leftovers.
Use Energy-Efficient Equipment
Replacing energy-hungry kitchen equipment with energy-efficient models can significantly reduce your restaurant’s energy consumption. This includes upgrading to energy-efficient light bulbs, using low-flow water fixtures, and investing in Energy Star-rated appliances like dishwashers that help save both water and money.
Partner with Sustainable Charities
Many charities work to reduce food waste, keep our water clean and promote sustainable agriculture. By working with these charities, restaurants can learn new ways to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their reach. Bottleneck Management partnered with Clean Water Fund through Round It Up America and encourages guests to round up their change on each bill to help support keeping our drinking water safe.
Jon Scott, Director of Corporate Relations and Legacy Gifts at Clean Water Fund weighs in on the partnership saying, “We all care about clean water and want to see it protected. It’s everywhere around us, deeply important to our economy and jobs, and is often a part of our most important and happiest experiences with children, family and friends. Yet it’s also easy to take clean water for granted. That’s why this partnership is so powerful — reminding people that clean water matters and providing an opportunity to support this cause. It all starts with awareness.”
Use Sustainable Packaging
Switching to sustainable packaging is another way to reduce your restaurant’s environmental impact. Consider using compostable or biodegradable to-go containers, straws, and utensils made from bamboo. It’s also helpful to only offer drinking straws when guests request them versus providing them with every drink.
If your restaurant isn’t using washable glasses and dinnerware for dine-in guests, consider investing as it helps divert landfill waste as well as keeps wasteful disposables out of our waterways.
Switch From Bottles To Taps
Take a look at your beverage program. If you’re going through mass amounts of beer and wine bottles, consider switching to taps. Not only does beer and wine on tap help create almost zero waste, it also keeps 1,000s of bottles out of the trash.
By implementing these sustainable practices, the restaurant industry can make a positive impact on the environment. Let’s work together to create a more sustainable future.
Check out our Wine On Tap article to learn about more of the benefits of pouring straight from the tap.