Food chains are examples of restaurants that are not sustainable. This is because they use natural resources that are not generated at the same rate as they are consumed.
In numbers, the food chains are responsible for the use of 70% of the water, for producing 30% of the greenhouse effect emissions and for exploiting the fishing business.
In view of these alarming figures, some restaurants have based their way of working on the principles of sustainability.
More than just changing their cooking and cleaning habits, some restaurant owners have modified their facilities to be more environmentally friendly.
Next, find out what habits restaurants follow to be an example of business, committed to the responsible care of the environment.
Table of Contents
What are sustainable restaurants?
Sustainable restaurants are businesses that serve their customers while caring for the environment.
In addition, a naturist culinary society is dedicated to following the FLOSS rules, i.e. “Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable”
They also follow up on the products offered by suppliers, recycling certain waste and training staff to achieve sustainable objectives.
Other ways to be a sustainable restaurant is to promote the consumption of healthy food and the conscious use of natural resources
Characteristics of a sustainable restaurant
Having a sustainable restaurant means managing resources in a way that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable; increasing profits while meeting business needs and fostering opportunities for the future.
In turn, sustainability has to be applied to three elements of the restaurant that we will explain to you below:
Environmental characteristics
To comply with the characteristics of a sustainable restaurant, your business must follow these measures for the care of the planet:
- Structures with an ecological architecture or design.
- Use of furniture that is characterized by being ecological and sustainable.
- Use of means of transport to transport food that reduce environmental impact.
- Control of water, electricity and gas consumption
- Reduce waste by recycling some items.
- Reduction of gas emissions from the use of heating or air conditioning.
Social characteristics
It consists of involving the community that is part of the business environment within the sustainable world. To do this, the following measures are taken:
- Preparation of healthy letters, which promote healthy eating.
- Carry out corporate actions that demonstrate the social responsibility of the business.
- Creating marketing strategies that incorporate the sustainability projects that your business carries out.
- Training staff on how to apply sustainability.
Supply chain characteristics
To run a sustainable business, you must have products made from raw materials that have the following characteristics
- Local or seasonal products.
- Organic food.
- Raw material from fair trade.
- Cleaning products certified as sustainable.
- Use of biodegradable products.
What I need to be a sustainable restaurant
With small steps, we move to big changes in the environment. That’s why with these measures, your restaurant will become a 100% sustainable establishment
- Do not put so much effort into catching endangered species of the sea, such as grouper and tuna
- It is important to use seasonal food.
- Stop using polluting materials, such as plastic or artificial dyes
- Recycle plastic, glass, paper and metal. The oil you have used should be taken to clean points for reuse.
- Grow your own fruits and vegetables free of fertilizers and pesticides
Concrete actions for conversion
Although people are creating awareness about caring for the environment, there are still many to join.
Restaurants have joined this cause and are a means for diners to help preserve natural resources, learn how to reuse some items and other points that we will explain below
1. Donate the food that was not sold
In the world, more than 800 million people do not have access to food.
It is estimated that in Spain each restaurant throws away approximately 3,000 kilos of food per year
If restaurants donate this food to the underprivileged, it contributes to reducing the levels of malnutrition and organic waste.
2. Prepare an inventory of perishable products
Restaurants should have an updated inventory to avoid food waste and save money
Statistics indicate that more than a third of the food produced is not consumed, generating losses for companies of at least 4 billion euros.
In order to offer quality dishes, it is necessary to use the “first in, first out” rule, ordering products according to their expiry date.
3. Offer a more vegetarian menu
Vegetarian cooking is in increasing demand. Many people have decided to reduce or eliminate meat consumption in their lives.
Sustainable restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian recipes that are creative and delicious.
4. Recycle
A sustainable restaurant must have a recycling system where the diner is the one who throws away his waste according to the material it is made of.
In this way, the habit of recycling is encouraged in each person, while collaborating to give a new life to each type of material.
9. Don’t waste water
It is estimated that water consumption will increase by more than 30% by 2030, so it is essential not to waste the vital liquid
To contribute to the use of this natural resource, sustainable restaurants use measures such as washing dishes when the dishwasher is full, placing motion-sensing taps in the bathrooms and having low-flow toilets.
There are also restaurants that collect rainwater to water the crops and also empty the toilets.
7 success stories around the world
1. Relae, Copenhagen:
This restaurant was founded in 2010 under the concept of sustainability.
It won the 2015 Sustainable Restaurant Award and its menu is characterized by combining local and organic ingredients.
Its chef Christian Pusigli always tries to add an element of surprise to all his preparations.
2. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu (Spain):
Located in the north of Spain, this restaurant has always been based on sustainable values.
Opened in 1976, its architecture is made up of solar panels and a geothermal system.
100% of the food consumed is organic and grown by them.
3. Tilth, Seattle:
It’s a classic restaurant with ecological details.
In Tilth, most of the ingredients they use are organic and local.
The crayons that they give to the children to draw are made with soy and the products that are in the bathroom, for women’s hygiene, are organic.
4. The Captain’s Galley, Scrabster, Scotland:
This restaurant serves only fresh seasonal seafood.
The owners of the establishment go to the market every day to buy the best quality products.
5. Rosemary’s, New York:
It’s a restaurant that has a rooftop garden from which they harvest the food they prepare.
Their menu includes Italian recipes made with sustainable products.
6. Narisawa, Tokyo:
The restaurant’s chef, Yoshihiro Narisawa, rotates his menu each season to showcase Japanese ingredients, while using French culinary techniques.
They aim to imitate the aroma, texture and appearance of the landscapes where the ingredients were grown in each of their dishes.
7. Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore:
This establishment serves local seafood that is in season.
They make environmental conservation efforts, like returning oyster shells to the sea to regenerate their ecosystem.
Where to buy sustainable restaurant supplies?
If you are determined to turn your restaurant around and start going on a greener path, we invite you to visit Greenuso.
In our online store you will find the necessary supplies for the normal operation of your restaurant.
The products you will find in our sections are made from ecological materials, such as sugar cane, palm leaf, PLA bioplastics and bamboo, among others.
Discover our wide range of products and you will find the perfect element to help you in the restaurant, while reducing the ecological footprint of your restaurant.
