Benefits of Going Green for Restaurants

Although the concept of “Going Green” has become almost cliché in our culture, at its core there is tremendous value for a restaurant to adopt eco-friendly best practices. By going green, a restaurant can save the environment, save customers, and save customers.

save the environment

By their very nature, restaurants produce a high volume of waster and harsh chemicals, from trash to grease. Not to mention that they require an immense amount of energy in order to sustain the various pieces of kitchen equipment, lighting, music, and dishwashers. Combine that with the fact that most restaurants operate for long periods of time each day and the impact upon the environment becomes substantial for each restaurant. By going green, a restaurant can:

• Prevent Air Pollution

• Reduce Waste

• Save Water

Save Customers

The concept of “going green” has resonated with consumers and they have become keen to what efforts restaurants are implementing in order to reduce their footprint. In fact, according to a 2008 National Restaurant Association survey, almost 62% of diners say they would prefer to eat at an environmentally friendly restaurant. With the access to information online, consumers can find out if you are taking the necessary steps. If you are, it can be an incredibly powerful marketing tool.

Save Money

Implementing eco-friendly methodologies into your restaurant will impact your revenue as well, which is something that investors and management can appreciate. Specifically, going green can:

• Lower Energy Bills: Energy efficient equipment can cut your energy bill in half almost immediately. Additionally, there are numerous government programs are offering rebates for investing in ENERGY STAR® products.

• Lower Water Bills: Not only can conserving water save you money, but due to fresh water shortages, water prices could soon inflate dramatically.

In short, taking the steps to go green can save the environment, increase your reputation with consumers, and save you money. For the most part, many of the necessary steps are quite simple. It requires you to make a conscious effort and evaluate even the most obvious strategies, such as turning the lights out in the manager’s office when not occupied. Go green and get ahead of the game.