When running a business in the hospitality sector, reducing the environmental impact of your cafe or restaurant could seem like a daunting task – but, it’s not as complex as you may imagine.
In just 5 easy steps, you can minimise negative impacts on the environment whilst making a positive contribution to the community and the planet.
Step 1: Swap your plastic packaging with compostable alternatives
Encourage your customers to always bring reusable containers and cups for their takeaway. In the instances where reusables are not an option, the best alternative for the planet is compostable packaging.
By swapping your plastic packaging for compostable and plant-based alternatives, an average cafe can avoid the use of 5 tonnes of plastics every year, and the 4,900 litres of crude oil used to make it.
Step 2: Leave nothing to waste
It’s inevitable that waste will be created in your restaurant or cafe, however, it is important to reduce and divert the organic waste going to landfills as much as possible. To help with this, we’ve made composting easy! With Compost Connect , surplus food can be diverted from waste and be transformed into high-value organic fertiliser – compost
This process not only reduces the impact of waste in landfills, but works to clean up our waste streams, and in this way can help ensure our inorganic materials such as recyclables are able to be recovered and re-used.
Step 3: Limit your energy and water usage
Just about every aspect of a food service establishment requires water. The average cafe, depending on size and popularity, can use as much as 20,000 litres of water in a single day. There are multiple ways to reduce your energy and water usage – such as making sure your kitchen is equipped with Energy Star-certified dishwashers, ice makers and steamers), opt for renewable energy instead of fossil fuel and consider getting an energy metre and educating your employees.
Step 4: Educate your customers
Spread the word and get your customers onboard your sustainable journey too. Let them know you are an eco-friendly business and promote that you’re making a positive difference for the environment by popping it on your website, your social media channels and perhaps blog post.
Step 5: Become a Profit for Purpose Business
A “Profit for Purpose” business is “led by a mission to achieve social, community and environmental benefit through trading and by channelling a portion of their profits toward their mission. This includes for example becoming a carbon neutral certified business, meaning your carbon emission gets reduced to zero or making your business a force for good as a certified B Corp.
Download the guide here to see how you can green your business.
