Sustainability is becoming more than a trend and adopting an eco-friendly approach to running a restaurant can have a number of benefits. Many restaurant owners feel that changes are out-of-reach but even smaller steps can have an impact. Things like reducing waste, using a locally grown supply chain, using an eco-friendly method to get rid of used oil, and more can all have a positive effect on the environment and play a part in restaurant sustainability.
Here are a few ways you can make your restaurant more sustainable.
Reduce Energy/Food Waste
Cutting down on unnecessary energy usage is one of the best ways to become a more sustainable establishment. A restaurant uses a lot of different items that require energy but with a few energy-saving practices you should be able to cut back on overall energy consumption. Here’s a few things to consider:
- Put motion detectors on lights in some areas
- Turn off POS system at the end of each day
- Switch to lower energy lighting
- Service appliances regularly to keep them operating at peak efficiency
Food waste is another area of concern for restaurants. Wasted food will never be completely eliminated but it can be reduced with things like daily specials, menu planning, and effective inventory management. A food waste audit could also help identify specific places where food waste is coming from.
Use Seasonal Products
Buying produce when it’s in-season is better for the environment because it doesn’t need to travel as far to get to where it’s being served. In-season produce is widely available and ready to eat when it’s purchased. Out-of-season ingredients are usually produced far away and need to be shipped long distances.
Many restaurant owners are also starting to plant their own gardens to grow vegetables for their dishes on-site. The size of the garden varies depending on the property the restaurant is on but some restaurants with limited space have made this work with gardens on rooftops.
Schedule Eco-friendly Used Oil Collection
Restaurant kitchens use a considerable amount of cooking oil in various pieces of cooking equipment. The proper disposal of the cooking oil is particularly important for your restaurant and the natural environment. If it is poured down the drain it can cause damage to the sewer system and harm the natural environment. Scheduling regular pickups with a used oil collection service is the best way to ensure your containers don’t overflow and oil is disposed of in an environmentally friendly fashion.
Start with Small Steps
Making the effort to become a more sustainable restaurant may not always be easy but working on one of the steps listed above could be a good place to start. A small step can have a big impact, and you can grow from there. By getting started with one or two small efforts you can lay a foundation for more changes geared towards sustainability for your restaurant moving forward.
