​Going Green? How to make sustainability a competitive advantage for your restaurant or hotel ...

Times are changing. In fact, they’ve been changing for a while.

Sustainability is a high-profile media topic at the moment and there’s huge public awareness surrounding the implications of the over-use of some materials, such as plastic, and the benefits of other environmental efforts such as reduced food waste and water and energy savings.

Any business operating in the hospitality sector shouldn’t be anything but sustainable in today’s market.Not only to give you a competitive edge and a positive brand image, but because your customers expect nothing less.

So, how to make sure your ‘green actions’ count with your customers?

Aligning with causes that matter to you and your customers

Today’s savvy consumers are more tuned in than ever before and they know how their actions, and those of the companies they use, impact the environment. Using unnecessary plastic disposables, wasting food, and undertaking non-green practices are just some of the reasons consumers are ditching businesses in this day and age.

Ultimately, consumers want to see themselves reflected in the companies they choose to grace with their custom – and they want to like what they see! Any customer-centric business knows the importance of adopting and practicing the causes that matter most to both customers and the business; it’s critical for business success in today’s world.

We at Duni, for example, have created a variety of sustainable alternatives for tableware, as part of our award-winning ecoecho® range, so that the businesses we supply to can provide a greener option to meet the increasing customer demand.

Got a sustainability policy? Then make sure your customers know about it!

So, your restaurant or hotel has completed exciting sustainability projects that you are incredibly proud of. Have you shared this with your customers?

Sharing your sustainability efforts with your customers from time to time helps to ensure that your customers and employees are aware of the good work you’re doing. Don’t keep it a secret, make your customers and employees proud to be associated with and for your company by letting them know about the positive impact you’re having on the environment and people around you. You can do this by sharing your efforts with the media – who are particularly interested in sustainability right now - on social media and across your website.

Sharing sustainable memories

It’s also worth remembering that consumers are much more likely to take and share photos of products that are a bit different. If they visit a restaurant or bar where all the products are plastic free and sustainable, for example, it gives consumers an opportunity to share that they’re helping the environment by eating or drinking at that particular establishment.

It’s not just the obvious, like cups and straws, that you can source sustainably. There are other products, which may be a bit different or quirky, that can make a difference too. We’ve developed a range of sustainable, 100% plastic-free, recyclable, FSC® certified Christmas Crackers, which aim to support the eco-movement and address social responsibility challenges while still delivering the festive feel-good factor. Quirky products like this help businesses create Instagram-perfect moments, while helping the environment at the same time.

You can also communicate your products’ environmental credentials on the products themselves. Many of our customers, for example, are opting to use our napkins have ‘compostable’ printed on them. Making their sustainability commitment very visible to the diner.

Creating Opportunities through Suppliers

Working with suppliers who share your values in terms of corporate social responsibility helps you to reach your restaurants or hotels own CSR goals. For example, if you plan to switch to energy saving LED lighting, it is worth partnering with a supplier, who not only can provide you with a professional solution but also is committed to similar values as you in terms of their supplier relationships.

Many restaurants and hotels proudly display the list of their main suppliers on their websites knowing that it is a great way to demonstrate their commitment to the environment through partnering with well-known sustainable suppliers and promoting this relationship through clever use of PR, marketing and social media.

We at Duni believe that all companies have social responsibility and we aim to build partnerships with suppliers and customers who share our view on sustainability. Our Blue Mission program sets tough goals for our, and our suppliers’, environmental and ethical performance, ensuring a peace of mind to our customers.

As consumers become more environmentally conscious than ever before, they’re much more likely to take sustainability into consideration when choosing which restaurant and bar to go to. Whilst your motive for becoming more sustainable should be to protect the environment, it can also offer you a competitive advantage as you’ll be more attractive to consumers looking for an ethical company to give their business to.