- Sustainability
- Planetpro
Small Changes, Big Payoff. Simple Shifts You Can Make Today
Like many people facing up to the realities of climate change, you're probably ready to take action! But you may be wondering what practical steps you can take to make the most impact. Let's take a look at all the opportunities you have to work toward Net Zero Emissions. Remember, these changes aren't just good for the planet; they can help you save valuable time and money too.
ASSESS YOUR ENERGY USE
• Keep refrigerators and freezers away from stovetops and ovens.
• Choose energy efficient and/or long-lasting equipment that can be remanufactured or recycled.
• Take advantage of natural window lighting to save electricity and use energy- efficient lighting.
• Use dishwashing machines to be more efficient with time and water and run in eco mode.
MAKE YOUR CAFÉ MORE EFFICIENT
• To save energy, match coffee machine sizes and heating systems to the numbers of cups served per day.
• Put the espresso machine on “standby mode” or switch it off at the end of the day.
• Save energy by using a kettle or instant heating machine to heat only the amount of water you need.
• If you have multiple orders for espresso-based beverages, prepare them at the same time instead of one by one.
OPTIMIZE STORAGE & PREP
• To prevent food waste, plan menus carefully, buy only what you need, and prepare perishable foods soon after shopping.
• Plan your time and cooking temperature so you can cook more than one recipe at a time. Using lids on pans will help retain heat too!
• When boiling, choose smaller pots so the food cooks more quickly while saving water. You can also reuse hot water for another recipe if it’s clean.
• Store and label ingredients so you can use food according to perishable dates.
• Set up bins for composting and recycling.
EVOLVE YOUR MENU
• Offer at least one vegetarian or vegan option.
• Use plant-based dairy alternatives and offer them as an option for coffee drinks and other beverages. A half oat/half dairy latte is a great place to start.
• Offer a range of portion sizes on the menu to prevent food waste.
• Try Meatless Monday promotions to attract more customers with meat alternatives.
TEAM UP WITH YOUR VENDORS
• Get to know the footprints of foods, and when choosing ingredients, focus on responsible sourcing.
• Seek and use more ingredients with low carbon footprints and reduce higher-footprint ingredients.
• Partner with local vendors for some of your seasonal produce.
• Find vendors who follow more sustainable practices, especially for high carbon footprint foods like meat.
• Choose products with recycled or recyclable packaging and ask vendors to minimize packaging when possible.
DON’T FORGET THE DINING ROOM
• Use serving materials that are reusable and recyclable and stop offering single- use plastic containers.
• Provide ice in beverages only on request.
• Provide a range of portion sizes on your menu. If needed, offer to send remaining food home with guests instead of throwing it away.
• Let guests choose their own sauces and side dishes to reduce waste.
• Consider partnering with an app like Too Good to Go that proposes to consumers to buy unused food at a discount.
• Try a deposit scheme to encourage returns of reusable or recyclable to- go containers.
DID YOU KNOW?
On-demand heating systems are most efficient for up to 100 coffee cups per day, while pressurized or atmospheric boilers are more efficient at higher volumes.
Ready to learn more about sustainable practices in your business?
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