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Food With A Conscience
- 23 March 2016
In September 2014, Silo, the UK’s first ‘zero waste’ restaurant opened in Brighton. Founder and Head Chef Douglas McMaster claims that the production of waste has been eliminated by trading directly with farmers, by using re-usable delivery vessels and by choosing local, in season, ingredients. An on-site compost machine turns any scraps or trimmings directly into compost which is in turn used to produce more food. Plates are made from recycled plastic bags and drinks are served out of recycled jam jars. Receipts are emailed to customers to save paper. Toilets are flushed with waste from coffee machines.
Earlier this year, Tiny Leaf restaurant in London’s Notting Hill opened its doors. Described as ‘London’s first and only organic, zero waste, vegetarian restaurant’. Menu options depend on would-be waste deliveries from Planet Organic and Langridge, the UK’s largest wholesalers of local and seasonal organic produce. Tiny Leaf turns surplus food donated by these wholesalers into gourmet dishes.
In addition, the restaurant will match fund every £1 voluntary donation added to each bill, raising money for Refugee community Kitchen Calais and the Soil Association. They also donate 20p per litre of water sold to Whole World Water, an organisation that aims to improve water supplies to people in need of clean water.
We may not yet have a zero-waste restaurant offering in Ireland, but Zambrero has recently opened in Dublin. It’s a Mexican fast casual chain selling healthy food with a philanthropic twist. For every burrito or bowl sold it donates a meal to someone in need via its Plate4Plate charity. The Irish outlet has been set up by Leinster rugby player Darragh Fanning who became familiar with the brand when he was playing in Australia.
Just some examples of how the restaurant trade is responding to today’s consumer that continues to expect companies to provide products and services that enable them to live an eco-friendly and ethical lifestyle. Identified by Bord Bia as the Consumer Lifestyle Trend.
For more information please contact Maureen.gahan@bordbia.ie
