The eco-friendly restaurant is a growing trend that is here to stay. 
 
Increased awareness and concern for environmental impact have many restaurateurs prioritizing sustainability, and more customers are flocking to eco-friendly establishments that align with their values, boosting the demand. This growing commitment to green living from restaurant owners and customers alike is inspiring and shaping a more environmentally responsible food culture.
 
Fortunately, this process is easier than it seems. There are several simple steps you can take, from changing your food packaging to upgrading to energy-efficient equipment. 
 
To kickstart the process and tick that green box, we've put together a guide outlining the first steps you can take to make your restaurant more environmentally friendly.  

1. Food Packaging

2. Cutlery and other tableware items?

3. Cleaning Products

4. Cleaning Machines

1. Food Packaging 

Countless restaurants today are adapting their establishments to become entirely eco-friendly. Food packaging represents one of the most manageable steps that you can take to adapt your restaurant. With the plastic ban now in effect across Australia, you may not be as familiar with what other packaging alternatives are available to substitute the previous go-to single-use plastics. The most common and widely available options include Sugar cane, Bamboo and Paper.

Sugar cane

Sugar cane packaging is manufactured from sugar pulp (also known as Bagasse). After the juice has been extracted from the sugarcane plant, the remaining fibre is the Bagasse. Not only is sugar cane recyclable, but it is also compostable.

Sugar cane has become a popular alternative to single-use plastics and is an excellent option for your restaurant. RapidG distributes the BioCane range by BioPak – this range is entirely natural and comes as clamshells and trays and more perfect for takeaway in restaurants and other food service outlets.

So, what are the benefits of going with sugar cane?

-  Recyclable, Compostable and Renewable material: the material is recyclable along with your other items and naturally decomposes under the right conditions.

-  Lightweight and grease-resistant, sugar cane is an ideal alternative to the plastic takeaway container.

-  Versatile; sugar cane is suitable for containing hot and cold foods. It can be safely reheated in the microwave and stored in the freezer without degrading. 

Bamboo

Bamboo rapidly became a hot commodity within the hospitality industry with its eco-friendly properties. Bamboo is one of the planet's most renewable materials and is widely used across every industry as it has proven to be a simple and affordable choice. For sustainable living, bamboo certainly ticks the green box.

What are the advantages of using bamboo for packaging?

- Durable: Bamboo is a strong yet lightweight material, stronger than steel, and can easily support the heavier food items your customers purchase.

- Biodegradable and compostable: Bamboo fibre is a natural cellulose fibre and is 100% Biodegradable and Compostable. Bamboo will not harm the environment as it does not contain chemicals and toxins that other packaging materials, such as plastic, do.

- Anti-bacterial: Bamboo is a safe and hygienic material, naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

- Versatility: Bamboo packaging is suitable for hot and cold foods—an ideal alternative to plastic takeaway containers.

- Aesthetically pleasing: the bamboo range, from utensils to cups, are natural and elegant in design and will give your establishment a fresh new vibe.

Paper

When you think of sustainable food packaging, paper is probably the first to come to mind. Paper food packaging has become a highly sought-after alternative, with the single-use plastic ban now applied across Australia due to its low cost and versatility.

Paper is more durable than you might think, and this material has been manufactured into various food packaging forms. RapidG distributes the BioBoard range by Biopak, which includes food trays, lunch and dinner boxes, sandwich wedges, chip boxes and more.

Paper is produced from natural sources, including wood pulp and oil. It is a recyclable and compostable material; customers can quickly dispose of their items in home recycling bins or add them to their compost bins.

More suppliers are aware of paper production's environmental impact; therefore, ensure to obtain materials from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified providers. FSC declares that developing a paper-based product is eco-friendly and protects the environment and communities throughout the process. You can easily identify if a product is FSC certified, as it will support the FSC tree logo on the packaging.

Another benefit that makes paper food packaging an excellent fit for restaurants is that while durable, it is also a lightweight option, ideal for carrying and storing. However, many different types of paper food packaging come in various forms and weights:

Kraft Paper: this is one of the most popular forms of paper-based food packaging. It is made from wood pulp, making it a renewable source, and it has been on the rise thanks to its durability. Kraft paper is mostly used in food packaging for flour, sugar, and dried fruits. Kraft paper is an excellent eco-friendly option as it doesn't require heavy chemicals.

Finally, another plus to choosing paper food packaging is that, from a design perspective, it is one of the most accessible materials for printing your logos.

2. Cutlery and other tableware items?

Three commonly used eco-friendly materials for cutlery and other tableware products include Sugar cane, Bamboo and Birchwood, revolutionising how we dine.

Sugar cane

RapidG distributes the BioCane sugar cane tableware range, manufactured by Biopak, which is available as plates, bowls, and cutlery. Biopak manufactures its sugarcane tableware from reclaimed sugarcane pulp and other plant fibres.

The BioCane bowls and plates come in various sizes, with the plates also available in single or three compartments. The bowls and plates are perfect for takeaway and delivery, as lid options are also available. The plus of choosing BioCane is that it is functional for both hot and cold foods and safe for reheating in the microwave and storing in the freezer. Style-wise, it comes in both white and natural colours.

Bamboo

Bamboo cutlery is a great eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastics. It is a safe material for cutlery, as it is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-toxic. However, it is always important to check that the bamboo cutlery has been ethically sourced and contains no harmful ingredients. The FSC certification is also available for bamboo. Look for the FSC tree logo on the packaging. You might also be concerned that bamboo retains its flavour and will affect the taste of the food or drink; however, that is not the case, making this a perfect substitute for single-use plastics.

Bamboo cutlery's benefits include being lightweight, durable, and long-lasting. Bamboo sets are also reusable and easy to clean. Design-wise, bamboo is incredibly stylish, giving your restaurant that sleek finish.  

Birchwood

Birchwood cutlery is a popular option for eco-friendly dining. RapidG distributes BioPak's wooden cutlery range, which is manufactured from FSC 100% certified birchwood and is suitable for home composting. Wooden cutlery and utensils offer durability and are long-lasting. Like bamboo, the birchwood cutlery does not interfere with food taste as it doesn't react with the food acid. Birchwood is versatile as it functions well with hot and cold foods.

Replacing the plastic straws

RapidG distributes the BioStraw range by BioPak, a popular choice for your eco-friendly alternative, available in Cocktail, Regular and Jumbo. The BioStraws are manufactured from a 3-ply premium grade paper and are FSC certified. Biopak ensures that the BioStraw range is not coated with plastic; they are both recyclable and compostable.

Eco-Friendly Napkins

Out with the old, in with the new. For eco-friendly napkins, RapidG distributes the BioNapkin range by BioPak. This range is manufactured with FSC mix-certified paper pulp and is compostable. They come categorised as Cocktail, Lunch and Dinner; 1 and 2-ply, ¼-fold and 1/8-fold, white and natural colours, and square and rectangle shapes to suit your dining needs.

3. Cleaning Products

Another aspect of your restaurant that can be easily adapted is switching to more eco-friendly cleaning solutions for your surfaces. RapidG distributes a wide eco-friendly range to complete this transition.

CleanPlus offers the BioEnzyme range as your next eco-friendly go-to. The BioEnzyme range contains natural enzymes and benefits the environment by being Biodegradable, non-bacterial, non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-flammable. The solutions further don't contain Phosphate, Bleach or Chlorine.

The BioEnzyme range includes Floor & Hard Surface Cleaner (Suitable for removing grease, oil, and food waste), Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (Really tackles tough stains and dirt), Toilet & Bathroom Cleaner (Ideal for removing odours, lime, soap scum and others), Waste & Grease Digester (Perfect solution to clean drains, grease traps and waste pipes), Urine Destainer & Deodoriser (Removes urine stains, odours, and deposits), Spray & Wipe (Suitable to clean multiple surfaces including floors, walls, glass, stainless steel, tiles, grill areas, BBQs, range hoods, rubbish bins and more).

Whiteley's EarthSmart range has the key benefits of being Biodegradable, Non-hazardous, Non-toxic, Chlorine free, and Phosphate free, with the Multi-Purpose Detergent also being a Concentrated formula. All solutions provide high-performing results.

This range is available as Multi-Purpose Detergent (Suitable for floors, walls, bench tops, countertops, sinks and other hard surfaces), Total Bathroom Cleaner (Suitable for all areas of the bathroom) and Window & Glass Cleaner (Suitable for windows, glass, computer monitors, whiteboards and more).

True Blue's new True Green range is biodegradable, highly concentrated and accredited by the Recognised Environmental Credentials Scheme.

This range is available as Clean All (All Purpose Cleaner for your hard surfaces), Blitz (Suitable for showers, toilets, and washrooms), Widow Shimmer (Suitable for glass, mirrors, and windows) and Violet Rose (Suitable for cleaning, deodorising, and freshening).

4. Cleaning Machines

The world's leading cleaning equipment brands, Karcher, Nilfisk and Numatic, are committed to sustainability without compromising on cleaning performance; this is echoed throughout their entire process from product design to operation. They are continually modifying their technology to deliver a positive environmental impact. RapidG distributes a wide range to suit your needs. 

Karcher is a globally recognised, leading manufacturer of innovative cleaning technology with products sold in over 190 countries. Karcher has developed advanced sustainable features for their technology, such as the eco-efficiency mode. This user-friendly mode automatically reduces noise levels, energy, and water consumption, including cleaning agents and is easy to switch on whilst cleaning. This mode further reduces the overall wear and tear of the machine, resulting in such models having more extended periods between maintenance, lower maintenance costs and, largely, a longer lifetime.

How can you identify which machines are eco-friendly? Karcher has designed an eco!ogic label to represent its eco-friendly products from its Home and Garden range; look for the green leaf logo on the front of the machine. Examples of machines in Karcher's eco!ogic range include the K4 – K7 Premium Ecologic Home Pressure Washers, which save up to 50% energy and water.

Nilfisk has developed an Ecoflex mode; the Ecoflex mode combined with SmartFlow technology helps to significantly reduce water and detergent usage, saving overall fuel consumption.

Numatic has developed Eco ReFlo technology to deliver high energy-efficiency. Look for the machines with the Eco ReFlo label to save on energy usage and overall cost. These vacuums are also manufactured with up to 75% of recyclable plastic.

We hope this guide has revived your inspiration for Going Green and helped you feel ready to apply sustainable practices to your establishment. With the single-use plastic ban now in place across Australia, it is a perfect time to bring the eco-friendly magic to your restaurant and be rewarded with the results.

Have you recently gone green? How has it transformed your overall system? What has been your customer's response to the change?

Please share with us below. All feedback is welcome and appreciated. 

Want to discover more about becoming eco-friendly and be notified about new content? Hit Subscribe.

 
RapidG supports the sustainability initiative and is proud to be a lead distributor of eco-friendly technology Australia-wide. Contact our team of experts to start your Go Green mission today.