What Color Is Your Restaurant?

Ten Ways Foodservice Professionals Can Go Green

1. Go plastic-free. There’s no such thing as “throwing plastic away.” Styrofoam and plastics can last over 400 years, are poisonous, and are harmful to wildlife and the environment. Consider using “spudware”: utensils and packaging made from 100% biodegradable cornstarch (breaks down easily through normal bacterial action).

2. Purchase local foods. Have you even eaten a just-picked tomato, still warm from the sun? Locally grown foods taste great, of course. But in addition, at least one study found that eating local is better for air quality and pollution—the many miles that food travels to our plates creates pollution.

3. Buy organic. Did you know that an average “conventional” apple contains over 30 pesticides, even after it’s washed? Organic farms do not use these petroleum-based chemicals, which have the potential to harm soil, water, people, and wildlife.

4. Use eco-friendly cleaning chemicals. Restaurants can be polluters, too. Conventional detergents and solvents contain harmful acids, bleach, or phosphates which end up in the water supply. New chemicals, such as RapidAll, work with cool water (saving energy), and are biodegradable.

5. Reduce waste. 20% of all food prepared commercially in the US goes to waste. Pig farmers will actually PAY for your food waste (peels, leftovers, etc.) Old frying oil can be recovered and turned into environmentally friendly fuels. Donate excess edible foods to a local soup kitchen or food recovery program.

6. Decrease water usage. To ensure adequate water resources for our future needs, we must put conservation measures into effect now. Water conservation saves money, and half of water usage in restaurants is in the kitchen. Wash only full loads in dishwashers; serve water in the dining room only on request; fix leaks in restrooms; use water-efficient appliances wherever possible.

7. Shrink your demand for energy. Most of today’s electricity is generated from the burning of fossil fuels—oil, coal, or natural gas—expelling vast amounts of greenhouse gasses and pollution. Saving energy is very simple: turn it off if it doesn’t need to run, and choose the most energy-efficient equipment that you can. National Grid offers free energy audits and rebates for energy efficiency... they will pay you for saving money!

8. Educate your employees and customers. Every personal contact you make is an opportunity to address climate change and improve the environment! Create a special dish and donate a part of the proceeds to an environmental cause. Adopt and display your environmental policy on menus, in ads, and anywhere your employees or customers will see it.

9. Recycle, recycle, recycle! Every ton of paper recycled saves 12 trees, 1,976 lbs. of greenhouse gases, and 390 gallons of oil. And it’s easy! The RI Resource Recovery Corp. can provide FREE waste audits to help your business implement a cost-saving program.

10. Become Green Certified. Green is HOT right now; more people are aware of climate change and environmental impacts than ever. Green Certification combines all of the above methods into one huge earth-friendly program. Certified RI businesses include Ted’s Montana Grill, Local 121, Rue de L’Espoir, Westin Hotel, the RI Convention Center, and many more. For more information go to www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/grncert/.