Restaurants are constantly running which means they are constantly using up products and resources. But how much waste is your restaurant putting out? Is this something you think about as a restaurant owner? It should be, and your customers think so too. Reducing waste isn’t only the right thing to do, but it can also save you some extra dollars.
- According to a Yale University and George Mason University survey, 98% of Americans are at least somewhat, if not very, worried about the current state of the environment.
- The Nielsen Company states that close to three-fourths of the consumers between the age of fifteen and 38 would pay more for sustainable products and services.
- National Restaurant Association reported 51% of consumers say the availability of environmentally friendly food would make them choose one restaurant over another.
- A study done by Champions 12.3 found that for each dollar invested in cutting food waste, restaurants save $7.
These statistics could leave QSR decision-makers wondering if they are doing all they can to protect the environment and appeal to the large group of eco-friendly consumers. Here are some ways your QSR can become environmentally friendly and save some bucks.
Reduce Energy Consumption. It’s no surprise that energy is constantly being used in restaurants due to lighting, cooling and refrigeration but there are ways you can save in these areas. For one, make sure your appliances and lights are energy-saving ones. When building a new franchise invest in energy-efficient insulation, this can save you on heating and cooling cost.
Reduce food waste. You can’t control how much your customers leave on their plate and we understand you want to give them the most bang for their buck. So instead of reducing their portion sizes and risk losing customers, focus on something you can control like your inventory. The right POS system will help you better manage your inventory so you can avoid over-ordering on food items that won’t last as long.
Reusable Supplies and Eco-friendly supplies. Some QSRs such as McDonald’s and Starbucks have already implemented ways to go green by introducing paper straws which will reduce plastic build up in the environment. If your restaurant uses plastic packaging/utensils, make the switch to something that is biodegradable.
Go Digital. Digital menu boards and in-store digital advertisements are rapidly growing. Not only are these menu boards environmentally smart they are financially smart as well. Digital menu boards will remove the need for excess printing of new menus or featured items, instead, you can change your boards as often as you’d like with no harm to the environment.
Appeal to all lifestyles. The number of U.S. consumers who identify as a vegan went from 1% to 6% in just three years This may seem like a small market, but the number of vegans continues to rise every year. More and more restaurants are providing at least a couple of vegan options to appeal to those customers.
Donate. Statistics show that consumers care. They want to reduce waste as much as possible and they support restaurants that care about this as well. We saved the best tip for last…donate any surplus of food that you have at the end of the day. Start a partnership with a local food bank and don’t be afraid to share this with the public via your social channels. This kind of positivity is bound to gain you some loyal customers who are proud to stand behind your restaurant.