The Government is also taking action to cut waste with a potential ban on plastic straws and talk of introducing a deposit scheme for single-use glass, plastic bottles, and steel and aluminium cans.
The Morning Advertiser is conducting a survey with readers to find out what they think about reducing waste in their businesses.
As the Blue Planet effect shows no signs of waning, and rightly so, businesses are likely to face more legislation and consumer scrutiny. It makes sense to get ahead of the game. This is a stance that leading operators and suppliers such as Oakman Inns and Coca-Cola European Enterprises have taken and something that industry bodies such as UKHospitality and the British Institute of Innkeeping have backed.
Going green(er)
Reducing your waste output offers a double win. It is clearly the socially responsible thing to do but it also offers potential cost savings in the long run and a boost to your business by improving your reputation and customer engagement. It can also help make you an employer of choice by attracting Millennial and Gen Z candidates. This age group is very environmentally aware.
Audits, action plans and communicating about what you’re doing to staff and customers all help to get results. As we wrote in our recent ‘plastic not so fantastic?’ article, not all plastic is a bad thing so it makes sense to identify where packaging actually helps prevent and reduce food waste.
Take action
1. Take our survey to help us understand what the pub sector thinks.
2. Add your support to the #TheLastStraw campaign by no longer offering single-use plastic straws and stirrers.
3. Think about where you can reduce unecessary waste in your business and get your staff and customers onboard by letting them know what you're doing.