Business tips
Running a sustainable business: tips & tricks
Doing business these days implies being as sustainable as possible. Not only is it an important criterion for customers, we all want to take care of our planet so we can keep enjoying it. Especially the food industry, as the earth gives us the pure and tasty ingredients we so love working with. We collected some tips & tricks for a sustainable restaurant or bakery/pastry shops.
Running a sustainable restaurant
As a chef you too can reduce negative impact on our planet, by being clever and careful with energy and ingredients.
- Choose green or renewable energy, such as solar energy, LED-lighting and motion-activated lights
- Reduce water waste with low-flow faucets and energy-saving dishwashers
- Lower transportation costs and CO2 emissions by buying locally or growing your own produce
- Develop relationships with sustainable producers and partners
- Choose seasonal produce to reduce your carbon footprint
- Reduce meat portions and increase vegetable offer
- Adopt a zero waste policy in your kitchen. For instance:
- Use the whole product
- Keep trimmings for stocks, sauces, smoothies, infusions …
- Stale bread is ideal to make croutons and bread crumbs
- Leftovers can be turned into a delicious amuse bouche
- Create preparations that can be used in different dishes to save on ingredients and staff costs
- Compost kitchen waste and leftovers
- Re-evaluate your portion sizes when plates return with leftovers
- Offer doggy bags with attractive, sustainable packaging
- Donate any remaining ingredients or dishes to food banks or charitable organisations
Running a sustainable bakery/pastry shop
Many of the tips above can be applied to the bakery industry too, such as using renewable/green energy and lowering transportation costs.
Some tips specific for bakeries/pastry shops are:
- Do you use green/renewable energy or other sustainable energy sources? Communicate this by means of a digital screen in your shop.
- Bakeries generate a lot of heat. Excess warmth can be used as an extra energy source, for example for heating.
- Use packaging in sustainable materials that can either be recycled or renewed, such as bamboo and paper.
Debic, dedicated to making a difference
Working with sustainable partners is one way to think about your carbon footprint. Debic is dedicated to making a difference by continuously working towards a more sustainable dairy chain.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING
- 100% RSPO palm
- 100% sustainable soy
ENERGY CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION
- Reducing CO2 emissions on farms
- Using alternative energy sources such as wind energy and solar panels
ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE
- Stimulating meadow grazing
- Providing animal with good living conditions
BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENT
- • Stimulating and rewarding dairy farmers who actively preserve nature and landscape
PLANET-FRIENDLY PRODUCTION & PACKAGING
- Reducing transport emissions and waste
- Reducing energy, gas and water usage in production
- Using 100% green energy in production
- Reducing packaging materials
- Constantly striving to increase the recyclability of products
Want to learn more about our focus on sustainable dairy farming?