Full Guide on Building a Green and Eco-Friendly Restaurant

As more and more people are actively trying to reduce their ecological footprint, restaurant businesses need to adapt to consumer demands. One of the ways to do so is by implementing green policies. In this guide, we’ll share some useful ways to build an eco-friendly restaurant. This can be used as part of the restaurant’s marketing strategy and help with customer retention and acquisition.

Recycling and Composting in Restaurants

Even though establishing recycling or composting systems can be a challenge in the restaurant industry, it’s becoming an increasingly popular trend. Here are the steps to do so.

1. Audit and evaluate the needs. Food waste is a major issue for the food service industry. It’s difficult to eliminate it completely but it can be harnessed and used as a tool to cut costs. A restaurant should explore the primary sources of waste and how recycling and composting can assist. Once the audit is completed, you can set organization-wide goals and educate your staff about the upcoming recycling and composting program.
2. Train your staff and customers. Proper staff management is a crucial element of a restaurant’s success. Furthermore, in order for a composting system in an eco-friendly restaurant to be successful, all staff members need to be aware of the goals and follow the guidelines. Customers should also be aware of the environmentally friendly goals of your establishment. That can be communicated through social media marketing for restaurants.
3. Collect data, improve, and adapt. Even if the initial recycling program was small, it can always be improved and built upon. That can be done through gathering insights from staff members and data. 
4. Change menus and marketing efforts. Eco-friendly restaurants have menus that are sustainable and focused on green policies. As customers expect to switch to more sustainable practices to make menu items more expensive, restaurants can even increase their profit margins. The marketing strategy should also be changed. It needs to be focused on the green policies introduced by the business.
5. Monitor KPIs and check results. Here are some of the main metrics that restaurants can use to measure the success of their recycling and composting programs.

• Amount of waste reused;
• Cost cut by implementing waste management and recycling;
• The volume of compost created by your restaurant.

As technology advances, there are more innovative ways to recycle and reduce your ecological footprint. Therefore, businesses need to always adapt and embrace changes in that regard.

Eco-Friendly Packaging in Restaurants

Packaging is another area where food service establishments can cut waste. The main packaging materials used by restaurants include plastic containers, boxes, and bags.

Eco-Friendly Packaging Options

As more and more businesses are introducing green policies, a lot of new solutions have emerged in that field. Let’s dive a little deeper into the main ones.

1. Recyclable materials. Distributors of wholesale restaurant supplies offer a variety of paper and plastic products that can be recycled.
2. Biodegradable materials. These include various materials like wood that break down easily in nature.
3. Plant-based materials. Bamboo is a great example of a plant-based material that can have many applications, including the manufacturing of tableware. Other plant-based materials that can be used for packaging and utensils in eco-friendly restaurants include sugarcane or cornstarch.
4. Fabric and natural fiber. Insulated cotton bags can be used for deliveries. 

How to Introduce Eco-Friendly Packaging

Even though introducing green policies can be a challenge, restaurant managers and business owners can do it in a few steps.

1. Assess the current needs and research eco-friendly alternatives. The first step of the process is to know how much and what type of packaging is used by the business. That can help in choosing eco-friendly options and calculating the price difference. Keep in mind that even though biodegradable and compostable restaurant supplies are often more expensive, they can also be seen as an investment. The reason for this is that the introduction of green policies can be used in a business’s marketing and help attract new customers.
2. Educate the staff and customers. All waiters and staff members need to be on board with the eco-friendly goals of the business. Customers should also be encouraged to opt for more sustainable options. This can be done in various ways. Simple ones include giving fewer napkins and offering straws only when it’s necessary. A restaurant can even organize bring-your-own-plate events. They have the potential to create buzz in social media and help with brand awareness.
3. Embrace change. The global market for eco-friendly products is developing rapidly. That’s why, every few years, businesses should research the newest solutions in the field and make changes in their green policies if necessary.

Plastic Alternatives for Restaurants

Businesses in the food and beverage industry are among the biggest polluters worldwide. Tons of single-use plastic products and food are thrown away daily. That’s why regulators are encouraging the usage of eco-friendly alternatives. Plastic wholesale suppliers offer a variety of biodegradable and compostable solutions for the restaurant industry. Allow us to share more about the main ones. 

1. Paper goods. Even though the production of paper has an ecological footprint, it is a much better alternative to plastic goods. That’s especially true if the paper goods have been made in a sustainable manner. Suppliers of wholesale paper products offer a variety of biodegradable items in their catalogs. Another benefit of paper and cardboard is that they have a wide range of applications.
2. Compostable and biodegradable goods. As they break down for a few days or weeks, these materials are an excellent alternative to standard plastic goods.
3. Other reusable products. Textiles, metal, and glass goods can be alternatives to single-use plastic products. They can be used for bags, tableware, straws, and other items that are needed in food service establishments.

Are Plastic Alternatives More Expensive?

When compared to cheap single-use plastic goods, the alternatives usually have a higher cost per unit. However, they can be seen as an investment as well. For example, reusable tableware can pay for itself in the long run. In addition, even though single-use eco-friendly tableware can be more expensive, it can help a business increase its revenue. That can be done by attracting more environmentally conscious customers. Furthermore, clients that strive to reduce their footprint on nature expect that eco-friendly businesses will charge more compared to others. Ergo, food service establishments can even have higher profit margins compared to other businesses.

Another way to save money is by finding suppliers that have the same mission and green policies as yours. You can benefit from their wholesale prices and a wide variety of nature-friendly goods.

Reusable Cutlery in Restaurants

As various reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable options have emerged on the market, businesses might have a hard time navigating through different ones. That’s why, in the next lines, we’ll dive a little deeper into the main types of sustainable cutlery.

• Metal. Even though it’s the most popular type of cutlery used, they have some disadvantages too. They are not very suitable for fast food restaurants and other food service establishments like cafeterias.
  The most popular type of metal cutlery is made of stainless steel. They are stylish and are used in most households and restaurants. One of their main benefits is their durability. In recent years, other metals have been used for cutlery as well. The most common ones are titanium and aluminum.
• Silicone. The main advantages of food-grade silicone cutlery are its heat resistance and durability. They are also easy to clean. Silicone cutlery comes in various colors and sizes. That makes them an excellent option for kids.
• Wood. Cutlery made of wood or bamboo is compostable and can be very stylish. They can be a great option for eco-friendly restaurants as customers associate wood with nature. Keep in mind that not all wooden cutlery is made from sustainable sources.
• Plant-based, edible, and other cutlery. There are many additional options for eco-friendly cutlery and tableware. Cornstarch and wheat straw products are just a few examples. Ice cream stands and food trucks might also incorporate edible cutlery like spoons.

Sustainable Restaurant Trends

Sustainability is a major part of eco-friendly restaurants. There are multiple ways food service establishments can reduce their ecological footprint. Let’s examine some of the ways to make a restaurant more sustainable.

1. Water conservation and energy efficiency. Switching to lighting and appliances with low power consumption can cut costs for businesses. Water-saving fixtures are another way to implement sustainable policies.
2. Recycling and composting programs. Organic food waste and compostable goods can give life to new vegetables. Nowadays, technology has made it possible for a variety of products to be recycled. That includes plastic, paper, glass, and other materials used in restaurants.
3. Purchase local ingredients. Partnering with local wholesale produce distributors and wholesale meat distributors is a way to become more sustainable. 
4. Switch from single-use plastic to eco-friendly goods. Even though they are more expensive, biodegradable and compostable tableware can be an investment. They can attract environmentally-conscious customers. Better sustainability for restaurants can also be achieved by purchasing eco-friendly packaging like food containers for takeout and deliveries.

Sustainable Restaurant Menus

When it comes to sustainability, menu engineering is an important part. The items on the menu need to be made from ingredients that are sourced in a responsible manner. That includes fish products that answer to seafood sustainability standards, produce that is organically grown, and meat that is from grass-fed animals. But that’s not all. Here are some additional menu-related policies that can make a restaurant more sustainable.

1. Reduce food waste. Sustainable and eco-friendly restaurants aim to reduce food waste as much as possible. That can be done by reducing the size of dishes.
2. Focus on seasonality. Seasonal produce and other products don’t require as much energy to be grown. Furthermore, seasonal menus are often preferred by customers as they know they’ll get a dish made of fresh ingredients.
3. Have a restaurant garden. This way, some of the vegetables can be grown in your own garden. This will not only improve profits but it will also be useful for your restaurant composting program.
4. Limit the menu. Having an extensive menu can often lead to more food waste. That’s why an eco-friendly restaurant will often have just a few items on its menu. This gives them the opportunity to focus on perfecting these items and preparing them in the most sustainable way possible.

Picking Sustainable Suppliers

In their effort to become eco-friendly, restaurants need to find partners and distributors that share their mission and goals. Allow us to share a few things an eco-friendly restaurant should ask a potential supplier.

• Have you incorporated green supply chain management (GSCM) policies?
• What is your commitment to waste reduction?
• Are your products sustainably sourced?
• What emission-reducing policies have you implemented for deliveries?
• What is the price, quality, and sustainability balance for your business?

Pros and Cons of Eco-Friendly Restaurants

Even though there are many benefits of eco-friendly restaurants, there are disadvantages too. Ideally, all restaurants worldwide will be green and sustainable, but that’s unrealistic.

Pros of Eco-Friendly Restaurants

1. Incorporating green policies helps with customer acquisition. It also boosts brand image and enhances customer loyalty.
2. Introducing sustainable practices can help a business increase its profits. For example, reducing food waste or having energy-efficient appliances can cut the costs of goods sold and maximize profits.
3. Turning your food service business into an eco-friendly restaurant means you’ll be prepared for the upcoming regulatory changes. Governments worldwide are becoming increasingly hawkish in their green policies. Therefore, it’s almost certain they will introduce more and more regulations related to green policies in restaurants.

Cons of Eco-Friendly Restaurants

1. Building an eco-friendly restaurant from scratch can be a challenging endeavor. And switching to sustainable practices can be an even bigger challenge. There are dozens of tasks related to making a restaurant eco-friendly. Basically, all business processes need to be changed.
2. Introducing eco-friendly products can have a high upfront cost. Recyclable and biodegradable goods used in restaurants are more expensive than cheap non-recyclable ones. However, if green policies are properly incorporated into the marketing strategy, they can bring new business and increase customer loyalty.
3. Incorporating eco-friendly policies can lead to more operational work. Both the management and the staff will have extra tasks related to these green policies. Furthermore, as new technologies and solutions regularly emerge in the field of eco-friendliness, managers need to constantly adapt and change the business processes.