Choosing a green restaurant

Plenty of people eat in an eco-friendly way at home, yet forget about it as soon as they go out. Picking a green restaurant when you eat out helps a more sustainable restaurant sector to grow.

Public concern for the environment is rising, and many restaurant owners have found that running their business in a greener way wins them loyal customers.

In the United States and Canada, the Green Restaurant Association certifies restaurants that meet its environmental standards, which makes them easier to spot. Certified places usually display this label proudly.

Here are some of the things a green restaurant may do:

• buy food from local producers, so less energy is spent on transport
• offer organic food
• operate in a LEED-certified building
• put vegetables and grains first, with smaller portions of meat
• choose sustainably caught seafood
• avoid over-packaged products
• order only the food it really needs
• avoid food processed with harmful chemicals or polluting methods
• clean with non-toxic products
• refuse styrofoam and choose recyclable or biodegradable materials
• limit disposable items such as napkins, cutlery and straws
• use efficient appliances and save water and energy
• recycle, and give leftover food to charities or compost it

Each meal in a green restaurant is a vote with your wallet. The more these restaurants grow compared with the others, the more competitors will follow their lead. At the very least, try to eat less often in fast food chains, which are usually the worst for waste and for the environment in general.