If there's one thing that's unfortunate about the food and beverage industry, it's the amount of excess and food waste being thrown away annually. Sadly, much of the waste comes from restaurants since some customers won't even finish the entire plate they ordered. Other than that, mismanagement also leads to excessive trash.
Thankfully, restaurant owners and managers find ways to start operating sustainably, wasting less food, and heading to a more eco-friendly path. The idea of an eco-friendly restaurant can sound intimidating and challenging at first, but if you integrate sustainable supplies and products, you'll notice a significant improvement in your waste.
Some restaurants kickstart their eco-friendly journey by incorporating tiny changes like using custom-printed biodegradable coffee cups. These small steps can gradually become bigger by adopting higher-impact sustainable efforts such as energy-saving techniques.
If you're thinking of transforming your restaurant into an eco-friendly space, read on. Here are some tips that can help you make the sustainable switch:
Tip #1: Use Sustainable Packaging
We mentioned earlier that you could start your eco-friendly journey by incorporating custom-printed biodegradable cups. Besides that, you can also start using environmental restaurant packaging for take-out orders since it helps reduce waste and improve your shop's brand image.
Packaging can be sustainable in three ways — they could either be recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Ideally, you want to speak to an eco-friendly packaging supplier so they can help you choose packaging options that will help lower your waste.
Tip #2: Ditch Toxic Cleaning Products
Cleaning is an integral part of restaurant management. Seeing that it is done daily, you must stay conscious about the products you use to clean the area.
When you're looking for eco-friendly cleaning supplies, ensure that the label indicates that the product is chlorine-free, Greenguard, green seal, and more. These may be a bit of an investment, but the advantages and benefits you get are enormous.
Tip #3: Energy-Efficient Restaurant Equipment
Eco-friendly restaurant equipment focuses on using energy-efficient materials. Ideally, you'll want to use Energy Star-rated products since they use less energy, allowing you to save more money on energy bills.
Although this equipment may be quite a heft in the pocket, you'll still get to save on energy in the long term.
Tip #4: Work With Local Suppliers to Meet Your Goals
When you invest in going local, this means you're buying food and supplies that come from 10 to 15 miles away maximum. Going local encourages local businesses to stay afloat and committed to producing high-quality products and supplies.
Additionally, most local suppliers are going down the eco-friendly route as well. That's why it's essential to communicate your sustainability goals so they can help you find products and supplies that can help you reach your goals.
The Bottom Line: The Benefits You Get From Transforming Your Restaurant into an Eco-Friendly Space Are Rewarding
Going the green route won't only benefit your restaurant, but it will also help the people around and protect the environment as well. Being conscious about the packaging you use, aware of how much food you waste, and sourcing from local alternatives will help you reach your eco-friendly restaurant goals in no time.
So start by shifting to eco-friendly food packaging and start caring for the environment today!
Why Choose Keeo?
If you're looking for eco-friendly food packaging, Keeo has exactly what you need.
We produce eco-friendly takeaway containers that are 100% compostable and plant-based. Besides that, we also supply custom-printed coffee cups, paper bags, trays, and wooden cutlery for clients in the hospitality industry. Check out our products today!