Restaurants are tapping into some real-time sustainable saving options for their businesses. Sustainable and green restaurants are trending and we are here for it. Not just for the sake of a registered eco-friendly sticker, restaurants are actually incorporating some real-time sustainable substitutes in their trade to keep their space environment friendly and cost-effective. In 2022, you are likely to see specific trends in restaurant sustainability. 

The critical priorities in mitigating climate change and pollution is a worldwide concern. Newer generations are growing popular with the use of sustainable and eco-friendly options like vegan menus and green spaces that are in sync with keeping lower carbon footprints. 

A green restaurant is environmentally sustainable and takes steps to reduce its impact on the environment by implementing various green practices.

So why exactly are green restaurants trending?

It’s an easy answer. The sustainable methods are not only easy on the environment but cut the cost of various elements in the business starting from no bag policy to no plastic straws and cutlery, vegan menus are much profitable and premium memberships introduced in the restaurants incorporated greater profits into the business. Updated appliances, alternative fuels used all help to cut the cost of an otherwise heavy and quite expensive. There is a larger guest appeal as the green restaurants are becoming increasingly trendy and not to forget the brand benefits and reputations that surrounds around the use of cleaner and sustainable food options. 

People want their food to be healthy and are increasingly shifting towards places with wider appeal and menus that cater to all kinds of choices and preferences. Places like these also score a higher following on social media channels and create a wider audience. 

Here are some of the ways you can achieve the above in a number of ways and incorporate them into your lifestyle:

SUSTAINABLE BRIGHT LIGHTING

Energy consuming appliances and installation is not cheap therefore substituting to a more sustainable and efficient energy source and usage is important. Tracking the energy used and wasted in your restaurants is the first step, conduct an energy audit and measure how you are spending your energy requirements. Some of the easy you can conserve the environment are by using motion sensors and light sensors to detect movement. When there is not much traffic the use of light and automatic doors with air conditioning is saved. All those hours of wastage are minimised. Using them in bathrooms and storerooms is a good option. Next, you can easily install LED bulbs for the space. It not only protects the environment from harmful pollutants but saves you money. The concept of open spaces is largely popular among people. Utilising natural lighting and proper insulation can help prevent the use of electricity, heating and cooling machines. Natural and LED lights make the interiors brighter and more energy-efficient.

REFURBISHED AND VINTAGE FURNITURE

Vintage furniture is everlasting and shows more depth and dimension in the interiors. Using vintage or reclaimed furniture will do the deed of sustainability with wonderful aesthetics. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential for the environment and prevents global warming. One of the easy you can lower the carbon footprint is by upgrading the appliances in-store. Upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances. Recycling and reusing are the primary ways you can start on low carbon emissions. Using reclaimed or old furniture from thrift stores, recycling cups and paper bags are a very good substitute. They are cheaper and have easy procurement. Implementing incentive programmes for employees for carpooling or using public transport help generate awareness and conscious behavior.

GREEN ATTRACTION

The vegan consumer base is becoming trendy for the younger generation as there is an awareness about shifting to a healthy lifestyle. With the pandemic, our lifestyle choices and eating patterns are gaining a lot of light. Green biophilic designs are being incorporated in the spaces to make them eco friendly and a breathable spot in the otherwise noisy and polluting city. These cafes and restaurants are acting as a serene and calm experience for their guest and keeping things up with the trends. In all of this introducing a meatless menu, or a dairy and lactose-free menu introduces a wider audience to your places and helps you gain traffic. Meat and dairy are essentially the biggest modern environmental concerns, taking up land, emitting greenhouse gases and polluting ecosystems. Beef production emits more greenhouse gases than any other meat. There are smarter options for vegan and small units where you can process meat and milk substitutes, infuse a protein-based diet in the menus and grow environment and health-conscious menus.

THEMED SPACES

Resorts and restaurants are taking in the alternate sources of energy and turning their spaces into concepts and themes restaurants that are using candlelights or natural energy as their main light source and making their places closer to nature and beauty. 

Using fossil fuels and natural gas is harmful to the environment. Investing in an alternate energy source whether solar, hydro or wind could help lower your carbon footprint. Solar energy is a very self-sufficient source for electricity generation and heating systems.

Using an alternate energy source can actually help save you money and the dependence on a very smaller resource that is harmful to the environment. Solar panels are a commonly used technique in restaurants, green gas from vegetable skurry is also a very efficient alternative generally seen in rural communal kitchens. 

SCALING DOWN

A major restaurant sustainability concern is food waste. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) estimates 17% of all food in homes, restaurants and shops goes to waste. Reducing food waste is a vital part of the battle against climate change and pollution — 8 to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions result from unconsumed food.

Scaling down and portion control are the newer trends in the themes of restaurants and making a sustainable menu and place that holds all the elements together.

Not only this, food waste has social implications as millions of households don’t have access to food and restaurants and hotels throw their excess food. This wastage can be minimised and the food can be redistributed. Decreasing food wastage is essential and helps alleviate food shortages globally. Reducing portion sizes, donating extra food storage and cooked food, rethinking hoarding as inventory can help in cutting back on food waste. 

FINE DINING EXPERIENCES

Consumers are done with single-use plastic and cutlery for their restaurant experiences. In fact some places and countries have banned the use of plastic spoons and straws and single-use plastic-based items. To control the excessive waste disposal issue and use substitutes you can let go of bottled water, straws, plastic bags, disposables, automatic take-outs. Places and businesses that are green and eco friendly have made huge profits through partnerships with commercial sectors to reduce the use of single-use disposables and reinstate recyclable bags and cutlery. 

Restaurants are adapting with the same by fine dining experiences and letting go of single-use utensils, creating a more luxurious blend of experience with sustainability.

OVERALL, Green restaurants are an inspiration for all the hospitality industry to take measures towards more sustainable living and eco-conscious ways of hosting. The younger generation is here for creating a better impact on the environment and is aware of its depletion. Green restaurants are here to stay in this year and eco-friendly ways not only help reduce the carbon footprint but also makes some budget-friendly additions to the green restaurants and is truly a redefined way of how we do our businesses.