Spotlight: Sustainable Dining / QSRs
Pivotal moment for restaurant sustainability. Starbucks doubles its Greener Stores. McDonald's franchisee tries plastic phaseout. Reusable bioplastic cups debut at Burger King (Finland). Spotlight on plant-based diners' fave QSRs. And much more...
Brands in the news: Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King, Sulapac Ltd, Arcos Dorados, 7-Eleven, Odd Burger, Shake Shack, National Restaurant Association, The Wendy's Company, KFC, Craveworthy Brands, Future Market Insights, ShareWares, Tim Hortons, Yum! Brands and many more.
A Pivotal Moment Regarding Sustainability for Restaurants
“In order to reduce energy consumption and their carbon footprint in addition to realize savings, Craveworthy Brands is partnering with Budderfly. The company's Energy as a Service (EaaS) holistic offering is designed to improve the overall building environment, including air quality, functionality, aesthetics, and comfort for customers and employees. as well as offer real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities so that restaurant operators can access data insights about their energy usage.”
How Quick Service Restaurants Are Reshaping the Hospitality Landscape
“After the emergence of technology to better the situation in QSRs, 2024 is expected to be the moment for these organizations to create a whole environment that will include their efficient and effective strategies on sustainability, convenience and improved customer experience.”
How Starbucks doubled the number of its 'Greener Stores'
“As of March, Starbucks classified almost 16 percent of its 38,587 cafes as "Greener Stores," locations that meet rigorous requirements for waste, energy and water savings. That's almost double the number it reported in April 2023, and more than halfway to 10,000, the number Starbucks wants to certify worldwide by the end of 2025.”
McDonald’s franchisee adopts biobased barrier coating for fast food packs
“Independent McDonald’s franchisee Arcos Dorados Holdings is applying J&J Green Paper’s ‘all-natural’ barrier coating to its paper food packaging in a bid to phase out plastics, PFAS chemicals, and consumer waste in the fast food sector. Designed to resist grease, water, and oxygen, J&J Green Paper’s JANUS coating is reportedly 100% biodegradable, home-compostable, repulpable, and recyclable.”
Sulapac reusable bioplastic cups debut at Burger King Finland
“The most recent instance is a new pilot project by Finnish restaurant and catering company Restel introducing reusable cups in selected Burger King and Rax restaurants, which the company operates in Finland. The reusable cups are manufactured by Finland-based material company Sulapac which specialises in bio-based alternatives to virgin plastic.”
The Evolution of Fast Food Containers: Embracing Sustainability and Innovation
“In recent years, the fast food industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences and heightened environmental consciousness. This shift has paved the way for significant advancements in fast food containers, with a focus on eco-friendly, sustainable, and innovative packaging solutions.”
Plant-based Consumers’ Favorite QSRs
“U.S. consumers love fast food and those who adhere to plant-forward diet are no exception. Which quick service restaurants (QSRs) are plant-based consumers seeking out this year?”
Businesses can reduce packaging waste with reusable solutions
“A Vancouver company has developed an innovative system to reduce food package waste by using reusable containers, transforming how cafés and restaurants serve food.”
Metcash and 7-Eleven join soft plastics scheme
“Grocery Council (AFGC) has applauded both Metcash and 7-Eleven for joining the industry’s collaborative effort to recycle soft plastics, making them the first retailers to support the initiative. The industry-led National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS), unprecedented in its scope and scale, aims to transform hard-to-recycle soft plastics destined for landfill into food grade packaging and other materials.”
Florida Gets 40 Vegan Burger Restaurants
“Down in Florida, 40 new vegan burger shops are slated to open thanks to Odd Burger, a pioneering Canadian chain known for its plant-based fast food. This expansion follows a new agreement with StarMatt Corporation, which will help develop the locations over the next eight years.”
Shaking It Up: Shake Shack Embraces Carbon Neutral Milk
“Businesses like Shake Shack are stepping up to make milk more eco-friendly. Recently, the restaurant chain piloted milk from Neutral Foods, the first carbon neutral food company in the U.S., in its signature shakes. Its carbon neutral dairy line also helps farmers, meaning that strawberry frosted donut shake just got a little sweeter for the planet.”
Sustainability technology is trending at the Restaurant Show
“While the National Restaurant Association Show is no stranger to eco-friendly products and solutions — from compostable packaging to energy efficiency solutions — modern technology is starting to play a larger role in foodservice sustainability. This year at the National Restaurant Association Show, there are several new and up-and-coming products and companies showcasing AI, blockchain, and IoT-driven sustainable solutions for the restaurant industry.”
Wendy’s Advances Sustainability and Equity in 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report
“The Wendy’s Company has published its 2023 Corporate Responsibility report, showcasing substantial progress within its Good Done Right strategy. This initiative focuses on responsible sourcing, fostering equitable workplaces and communities, and minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in restaurant operations and the supply chain.”
Insights From KFC Global’s Chief Development Officer Nivera Wallani and Chief Sustainability Officer Nira Johri at Innovation Forum
“This week, KFC Global's Chief Development Officer Nivera Wallani and Chief Sustainability Officer Nira Johri spoke at Innovation Forum's Future of Food and Beverage conference about why cross-functional engagement is the key to turning sustainability ambitions into reality. They shared how our development, operations, HR, supply chain and marketing teams are working together to engage employees, suppliers and franchisees, create cross-functional governance and embed sustainability throughout our business strategy.”