Because of the ever-present, ever-growing demand for food, the restaurant business is a common choice for entrepreneurs. However, this also means that there is a lot of competition and you need to excel in various aspects of the business other than your food to attract more customers. One of the factors that customers look for these days is eco-friendliness. It will help your business to apply it to both your establishment and your menu offerings. The following are some great green starter ideas on how you can do so.
Light From The Sun
One of the ways that you can make your establishment more eco-friendly is to save on energy consumption. And what better way to do that for a daytime restaurant than to open up parts of your place to let in sunlight? For example, you can hire roofing contractors in your Salt Lake City locale to inspect your roof and assess if putting in a skylight is a feasible option. The natural light will help elevate people’s moods, and you also get to save on energy costs, in the long run.
On-Site Garden
Including more plants within the premises of the restaurant is always a good idea. But have you thought of taking it to the next level and actually including species that you can use for food? For example, you can plant certain herbs and vegetables and then utilize those in your menu. If you have the space and enough of a production rate, you can even encourage your customers to buy some from you for use in their homes. Plants don’t just beautify the place; are useful and sustainable, too.
Dining With The Seasons
If you go with the earlier idea, then you can surely regularly change up the menu according to the growing season. Going with local species – each with their own harvest time and unique flavors – can benefit the ecosystem and boost sustainability, supporting sustainable agriculture efforts. Your customers will have something to look forward to as the seasons change, and because of that, they can be encouraged to regularly go to your establishment. Not only that, but they’ll also get to support the local environment.
Reusable And Recyclable Items
Reusing and recycling always contribute to environmental sustainability. For instance, if you offer takeout, include reusable utensils, containers, and bottles or go with eco-friendly, bio-degradable options. You can help reduce the restaurant’s negative mark on the environment through this method. Not only that, but you can also give an incentive for customers to return to your establishment. Other great ideas for your restaurant would be to decorate with quirky, upcycled materials. Empty wine bottles for example, make for nifty flower vases and candle holders. Old wood makes for interesting accent pieces. The possibilities are endless.
Going green might cost you at the onset, but it is a worthy investment. You can lessen your restaurant’s carbon footprint, and at the same time, you score points with your customers. In fact, you can even inspire both your clients and your workers to be more conscious of nature and your surroundings. So go ahead and go green.
