The term “sustainability” is often used today in conjunction with efforts to save the environment. From renewable energy to zero-waste policies, different efforts are being done by companies around the world in response to climate change and the depletion of natural resources by adopting business practices that are friendlier to the environment
Aside from being a good opportunity to save the environment, making the shift towards higher sustainability can be a great move for different businesses, restaurants included. This is because research shows that Millennial and Gen Z customers, the world’s current primary spenders, are willing to pay more for sustainable products. Market preferences are now shifting towards greener, sustainable options, so how can restaurants take advantage of this trend?
Sustainability in Restaurants
A sustainable restaurant business is one that minimizes its impact on the environment. In today’s market, a customer’s dining experience goes way beyond the quality of food. If a good meal is environmentally destructive, it will not be appreciated by a lot of customers. That’s just the effect of a growing eco-conscious market.
Thankfully, there are several ways for restaurant businesses to improve their sustainability.
#1 Investing in Restaurant Technology
There are several aspects of restaurant technology that can help the sustainability of your business. They can help automate several processes and conserve both manpower and energy where it matters.
From simple things such as using more efficient light bulbs to more complex usage of solar power, sustainable methods can greatly help in reducing costs while simultaneously improving the efficiency of your workflow.
Cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) systems are a great example of sustainable restaurant technology. Aside from being able to manage your inventory and other costs, cloud-based POS systems are packed with software integrations that help optimize operations.
Instead of relying on expensive proprietary hardware, cloud POS systems can work on a variety of platforms. Restaurant businesses can take advantage of system improvements without the need of buying new hardware every time there’s an upgrade.
Newer systems also tend to be more energy efficient. While keeping an old refrigerator running as long as possible may seem like the cheapest option, it may not be so if you take energy costs into consideration.
Investing in good, long-lasting, and energy-efficient restaurant equipment is essential for the longevity of both your business and the environment. Be on the lookout for the newest, most affordable, and eco-friendly technologies and adopt them for your restaurant business whenever you can.
#2 Use Sustainable Packaging
Plastic waste is one of the biggest problems the world is facing today. In order to achieve sustainability, a restaurant business has to make it a point to reduce plastic as much as possible.
Eco-friendly alternatives such as paper and wood can be used as an alternative to plastic packaging. Wooden utensils, linen napkins, paper cups, and paper straws have been a trend for sustainable food businesses everywhere. Some restaurants also allow customers to bring their own reusable containers in order to save on package waste.
Having many sustainable alternatives to the usual items people use or observe would definitely leave a mark on them, not to mention give them the sense that they are doing the right thing by being in your restaurant.
Extending that responsibility to your customers is a great way to get them involved in the business of saving the world. Using eco-friendly packaging is definitely a step in the right direction for any restaurant business that wants to be truly sustainable.
#3 Employing Good Eco-friendly Practices
When it comes to the environment, every little thing counts. Changing workplace habits and practices can go a long way in achieving restaurant sustainability.
Training staff to conserve water and turn off unused appliances are great ways to reduce your utility bills and your carbon footprint. Workers in food chains that practice sustainability have been described to be more motivated in doing their tasks and improve workplace morale.
Another way you can improve restaurant business sustainability is to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever possible. Got a special item you want to promote? Draw it on a chalkboard instead of printing it on paper! Want to reduce your printed receipts? Why not send a digital one instead through your POS?
An efficient system is a sustainable system. Always be on the lookout for ways to improve the quality of your service without compromising the environment.
#4 Offering Vegan and Vegetarian Options
It’s no secret that mass-market livestock farming and fisheries are not the most sustainable practices in the world. Aside from the substantial resources required for these practices, the agricultural impact of livestock is a significant contributor to food and energy waste globally.
Adding more vegan and vegetarian options using ingredients from responsible farms is a great way to utilize sustainable foods. With the proper marketing, having a restaurant business designed for sustainability that caters to all customers including vegans and vegetarians will definitely attract a lot of attention and be good for business.
#5 Source Locally
Logistics is one of the most overlooked parts of the restaurant industry. Deliveries and transportation are just as important to a restaurant business as sales and service.
Instead of relying on exports, you can try sourcing your ingredients locally to cut down on fuel and transportation costs. If some ingredients aren’t available where you are, consider contacting suppliers and trading with them directly.
Shortening the supply chain and minimizing carbon mileage is important to achieving a truly sustainable restaurant business. These practices can help reduce costs, speed up operations, and improve the quality of your products.
Should You Shift Towards Sustainability?
Changing the way you operate your business will definitely come at a cost. Aside from the actual capital you have to spend, you also have to invest time and energy in breaking old habits and creating new ones.
While sustainability certainly comes at a cost, no inconvenience is worth more than our world. By adopting greener alternatives and eco-friendly practices, you can make your own contribution to a more sustainable world.
With the rapidly rising number of people shifting towards sustainable efforts, businesses founded on sustainability are bound to be rewarded for their efforts. While it may not always show up on the balance sheet, the changes you will make will find their way into someone’s plate. The question is, what will you give them?