CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility, is gaining momentum. While many companies use it to improve their image, it is also a way for them to be more competitive and have better relationships with all their stakeholders.
But beyond companies, restaurants are now starting to developing CSR strategies. Why, and what are the challenges?
The restaurant industry, a CSR player
Indeed, as customers become increasingly concerned about what is on their plates, restaurants have a real role to play in developing CSR policy. Thierry Marx, one of France's top Michelin-starred chefs, considers his cuisine to be eco-responsible, is calling for young chefs to be made aware of sustainable development. We are witnessing an era in which the population is becoming aware of environmental issues and is questioning past consumer behavior. People no longer want to consume as they did before, based on a model dating back to the 1950s, and want to prioritize eco-responsibility and promote sustainable development. You only have to look at the demonstrations that have taken place in recent months, such as the climate march, or the influence of the young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, to understand that restaurants have every interest in adapting to these new consumer behaviors. We are therefore going to give you a few tips for sustainable development that you can use for inspiration.
Reducing food waste
A first step toward reducing waste in your restaurantis to prioritize fresh ingredients, reusable packaging, or bulk purchases. You can also recycle and compost your waste. There are even companies like Love Your Waste that will collect your compost if you don't have outdoor space to compost it yourself. You can also cook with peelings, carcasses, leaves, and bones, as they do at L'Epi Dupin, a zero-waste restaurant. It would also be essential to limit food waste by calculating the appropriate quantities of food needed.
Local and seasonal products
What could be better than local, seasonal produce for sustainable cooking?It means you are less dependent on transporting these products and you get fresher produce. A few years ago, we even saw the development of the "Made in Paris" label.
Responsible water: the water cooler without a bottle
Water consumption has a significant impact on the environment, particularly due to its transportation. That is why choosing a more responsible, more environmentally friendly water is a solution that can be implemented as part of a CSR strategy. CASTALIE microfiltered water fountains CASTALIE an excellent way to offer responsible water at yourtables thanks to their zero-waste, zero-kilometer attributes.
Social initiatives as CSR actions
As part of a CSR policy, you can also carry out social initiatives and communicate about them. For example, CASTALIE a partner of an ESAT (a French organization that helps people with disabilities find employment).
Promoting your CSR activities
Finally, don't hesitate to obtain certifications, which are a real guarantee of quality for your customers, such as Ecotable which lists eco-responsible establishments, or Fraheim for anti-waste restaurants. In addition, your restaurant can be listed on a map showing all eco-friendly restaurants by The Place To Bio, which is a great way to highlight your CSR initiatives. In short, if you are pursuing a CSR strategy, communicate it!
Obtain an eco-label
CSR for restaurants also involves obtaining a label for your restaurant. For example, EurotoquesEurotoques , officially recognized by the European Commission, or the Lucie label, CSR label well-known label.
As for Ecotable mentioned above, this is the sustainable catering label that references sustainable and eco-responsible restaurants. Like Michelin stars, it ranks restaurants using a points system. The association even provides sustainable development consulting to restaurants, providing them with concrete solutions, with the aim of implementing actions in favor of sustainable development.
