Sustainability important to restaurants, survey says

Toronto – A majority of Canadian restaurants and foodservice businesses say environmental sustainability is important to their success, according to a survey from Restaurants Canada.

In response to the association’s most recent quarterly Restaurant Outlook Survey, 82 per cent of respondents reported that environmental sustainability is moderately to very important to the success of their businesses and 55 per cent said it is important to very important.
 
Ninety-eight per cent of foodservice operators said they recycle; 93 per cent use energy or water saving equipment; 77 per cent track, compost or donate leftover food; and 92 per cent plan to continue or improve on their current level of environmentally sustainable operations over the next three years.

“With consumers growing increasingly concerned over the environmental impacts of their dining habits, restaurateurs are likewise becoming more focused on the sustainability of their business operations,” said Chris Elliott, Restaurants Canada senior economist, in a news release. “These survey results indicate that Canada’s foodservice sector is mindful of how sustainability is becoming a necessity for profitability.”

Survey respondents said the greatest barriers to improving the environmental sustainability of their business operations include the cost of implementing changes, the additional burden of training staff and the lack of availability of more environmentally friendly products.

Results from the Restaurant Outlook Survey for the third quarter of 2018 were compiled from responses solicited in October 2018.