6 more ways to create a more sustainable restaurant
Sustainability has become one of the most important factors affecting many industries, including restaurant management. If you want to meet customer expectations and minimise the damage you cause to the wider world, you need to consider how to make your restaurant more sustainable.
Prominent chefs are amongst those attempting to encourage increased sustainability. Here are some tips to help your own restaurant:
1. Customer satisfaction
The most important part of running any restaurant is ensuring customer satisfaction. This can include explaining to customers why their favourite ingredient may not be available at certain times of the year. However, you don’t want them to feel you are preaching at them whilst they eat their meals. Informative menus and well-trained staff can ensure all customer needs are met whilst maintaining sustainability.
2. Do your homework
You will need to research everything, from ingredients to equipment to staff. Talk to producers and suppliers, seek out others with your values, and find out what support you may be able to receive from your local council. This information will not be handed to you; you need to find it.
3. Train your staff
You cannot make your restaurant sustainable by yourself. Your staff members also need to be invested in its success. Make sure they are educated and trained, perhaps by taking them to meet producers. Again, this may take time. Your staff will be the ones talking directly to your customers, so make sure they are informed and enthusiastic.
4. Manage your waste
Sending waste to landfill is the most expensive part of waste disposal. Food waste can be composted; glass, cardboard, paper and plastic can be recycled. Build good relationships with your suppliers and hopefully they will help you reduce your waste or ensure that it is recyclable.
5. Long term planning
Short term expense can lead to increased sustainability in the long run. Investing in energy efficient equipment and ethical business practices may cost more, but your restaurant will continue to make use of that investment for many years. For instance, one place to buy a saladette counter is https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/commercial-refrigeration-brands/i-l/interlevin/interlevin-esa900-refrigerated-saladette-counter.
6. Charity work
Being responsible includes accepting your place as part of the community. This means supporting charities. If people are supporting you with their custom, you can support them by hosting events and raising money for their causes.