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RESTAURANT SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE

A guide to sustainable and eco-friendly establishments

Introduction

This page created by Seaside Sustainability contains researched recommendations and solutions to help make restaurants and cafes more sustainable and eco-friendly. The categories explored are composting, excess food donations, water regulation, inventory management, sustainable packaging, and eco-friendly cleaning products.

Demand for Sustainability

The restaurant industry generates large amounts of plastic waste such as single-use straws, food-ware, and fishing gear. Marine debris is one of the most widespread issues that face the world's oceans, and overfishing can lead to food crises and financial hardships. Many consumers acknowledge that it is crucial to protect the ocean's resources for future generations and would pay more for restaurants that use sustainable practices.

Composting

Excess Food Donation

Water Regulation

Inventory Management

Sustainable Packaging

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Click the Images Below to Learn More!

  • Composting reduces the amount of food waste that is reaching landfills. Composting will decrease the amount of money spent on trash/landfill disposal and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. There are two options for composting: outsourcing via a company or
    composting yourself.

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    Learn More:

Click through to see more composting benefits.

Interested in becoming a Seaside Approved restaurant?

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Fill out the contact form below!

  • Saving water creates a more sustainable system but also lowers operations costs. Several areas that could use more water regulation are:

    • Using low-flow pre rinse for dishes

    • Control water flow of garbage disposal when unit is not in use

    • Low-flow faucets and toilets

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    Learn more:

Read the full document by the EPA here.

  • Discovering the right amount of materials needed for your restaurant can help you lower operating costs and become more environmentally conscious. The first step (and the most tedious one) is to conduct a waste audit. This entails tracking the waste leaving your restaurant for a week or so and identifying patterns of waste. Then, you can adapt by adjusting portion sizes accordingly, using older produce, first, and starting a digital inventory management system i.e. POS system.

  • By switching to biodegradable containers and reusable food-ware in your restaurant you can prevent any plastic, Styrofoam, and other types of takeout containers from entering landfills. This helps prevent chemicals from entering waterways and negatively impacting marine species. Using eco-friendly containers is the best way to display your brand’s social awareness as many consumers highly value brands that look out for their best interest and the environment.

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    Check out these affordable supply stores:

View more information from the EDF here.

  • Use eco-safe cleaning materials in your restaurant for your health and the environment. Few chemicals in many industrial cleaning products are regulated by the EPA and some common name-brand products have been found to have carcinogenic impurities. These chemicals end up in our waterways and persist in the environment. Additionally, the type of plastics used are often non-recyclable so these empty bottles end up in landfills. Protect the health of your employees and consumers and also reduce costs for the proper disposal of hazardous products by switching to eco-safe products.

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    Check out our breakdown of cleaning products:

  • Restaurants can deduct up 10-30% of their taxable income by donating excess food. The exact deduction can be calculated at the donation center. Restaurants can donate fully cooked meals, non-perishables, as well as leftover ingredients. Several charities and food banks are also open to partnering with restaurants.

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    Local donation centers:

Next Steps:

 

Step 1: Fill out the contact form below to unlock more information. 

Step 2: You will receive an introductory email from Seaside Sustainability.

Step 3: Once you have implemented any changes necessary (to meet our criteria), fill out the Self-Assessment and send it back to us.

Step 4: You will get a confirmation phone call and after final verification, you will get an email with our logo and promotional materials.

Download our Restaurant Sustainability Guide!

For More Info Contact Us at:

Email: restaurantsustainability@seasidesustainability.org

  • Composting reduces the amount of food waste that is reaching landfills. Composting will decrease the amount of money spent on trash/landfill disposal and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. There are two options for composting: outsourcing via a company or
    composting yourself.

    ​

    Learn More: