High streets beyond waste: Ready-made solutions for food and drink businesses

02/07/24

You may have already considered your energy efficiency but have you ever considered the impact of all the ‘stuff’ that you or your customers buy, make, use and throw away? That could be waste created during food prep, food left on customers’ plates, or single use packaging from supplies or takeaway containers you give to customers. All of this contributes to the carbon footprint of your business and also costs money!

By tackling these things within your high street business, you can reduce costs, create new revenue and attract sustainably minded customers. All while reducing the impact your business has on the environment.

However, you don’t have to do it alone – there are innovative businesses that exist to help you do exactly that! We reached out to just some of the beyond-waste businesses in our network to tell you in their own words how they can help you to make better use of ‘stuff’.

Read on, watch the videos and if they sound like a good idea for your business, you can get in touch directly to see how you can work together.

Meet the innovators

Limetrack

What: Smart bins that help you separate food waste and tell you how much you’re throwing away so you can change how much you buy

Why:  Become compliant with the new separated food waste regulations, reduce costs and save money

Who: Restaurants, cafes or any business that prepares food for customers to eat in or takeaway

Find out more: Visit Limetrack’s website

Get in touch: andy.king@limetrack.earth

 

 

Too Good To Go

What: An online platform that helps you sell leftover food at the end of your business day. Read their ‘How it works‘ info pack

Why: Make money from selling leftover food that you would have thrown away, find new and repeat customers, reduce waste disposal costs

Who: Restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops, bakeries or any business that prepares takeaway food

Find out more: Visit Too Good To Go’s website

Get in touch: Register your interest

Circular&Co.

What: Reusable, returnable and borrowable coffee cups – three ways to replace single use cups!

Why: Reduce the cost of buying and throwing away single use cups, improve your environmental impact and get customers to come back

Who: Cafes, coffee shops or any business selling hot drinks for customers to takeaway

Find out moreVisit Circular&Co.’s website

Get in touch: adam@circularandco.com

More resources

Check out these additional resources for inspiration on how to reduce food waste and make better use of the ‘stuff’ in your business:

Food that doesn’t cost the earth: A guide for food businesses

What: A comprehensive guide for restaurants that looks at the environmental impact of every aspect of the business

Why: Learn how you can improve all areas of your business from food to facilities to transport

Who: Restaurants, cafes and other hospitality businesses

Find out more: Download the guide

 

 

Quick guide: How to tackle food waste in your hospitality business

What: A list of quick steps to reduce food waste with suggestions of more innovative businesses who can help you

Why: Discover more solutions that make it easy to save money and improve your environmental impact

Who: Any business that finds they are throwing away food!

Find out more: Download the guide

 

 

Guardians of Grub

What: Learn how to measure and reduce food waste – free online training and resources to help food businesses measure and tackle different types of food waste within their operations. Use the free, online ‘Cost Saving Skills’ course as a starting point to understand how and where to begin.

Why: Save money, give staff new skills and improve your environmental impact

Who: Any food hospitality business

Find out more: Visit Guardians of Grub’s website