2010 Gra Presentation

The Green Restaurant Association

Greening Restaurants Since 1990

Green Restaurant Association Greening the Restaurant Industry Since 1990

Who is the Green Restaurant Association?

What is the Business Case?

What is the Process to Go Green?

Welcome to This Presentation


Founded in 1990

National non-profit organization

Mission: Shift the restaurant industry toward ecological sustainability

Largest Database of Green Solutions for the Restaurant Industry

770 restaurants in 39 states and Canada

Transparent Science-based standards built from the ground up for the restaurant industry

Most Experience of any organization on the planet helping restaurants go green

Proven Track record helping thousands of restaurants over two decades

Who is the GRA?


GRA is Endorsed By Natural Resources Defense Council New York State Restaurant Association Environmental Defense Orange County Restaurant Association Chef’s Collaborative American Public Garden Association Scores of organizations around the

country


The World’s Restaurants Turn to the GRA

Mario Batali12 restaurants in NY, L.A., & Vegas

All 2 and 3 Star Certified Green Restaurants®

St. Andrew’s Café at CIA2 Star Certified Green Restaurant®

Certified Since 2009

Over 33 restaurants on 3 campuses2 Star Certified Green Restaurants®

Certified Since 2007

“We are proud of our efforts tominimize our carbon footprint,

and the Green Restaurant Associationaffords us the opportunity to make

these changes more efficientlyand effectively.”

Rick BaylessFronterra Grill & Topolobampo

3 Star Certified Green Restaurants® Certified Since 2010

Why go Green?

cut costs get noticed increase customer base improve staff morale stay ahead of legislation improve environment



Your GRA Environmental Consultant will help you choose the products and services to benefit your bottom line and save in areas, such as:

• waste • energy• water• recycling

Cut Costs

“I realized about a 45% return on my investment in one year and cut approximately $1200 off my annual operating costs.”

Jim SolomonOwner of The Fireplace Restaurant


Receive Media Attention

“They have provided us with notable media attention.”

Pat JenkinsPresident, Le Pain Quotidien

•NBC Nightly News•Martha Stewart•NY Times•Time Magazine•Fox News•Thousands of local stories…


Increase Your Customer Base

“Becoming a Certified Green Restaurant® provides us instant opportunity for new business and keeps our customers coming back when they see our certification seal.”

-Paul SaleB.R Guest Executive Chef

79% of Consumers Prefer to Dine at Certified Green Restaurants®

May 2010 Technomic Survey


What Consumers SayFALSE OR UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS39% would stop patronizing a restaurant that was falsely claiming to be “green”An additional 43% would be less likely to patronize that restaurant

SELF-CLAIMSOnly 6% trust a restaurant’s self-reported green claims94% trust claims verified from an outside source

Source: 2010 Technomic survey


Increase Staff Productivity

“212’s Certified Green Restaurant® status has attracted new customers, cemented relationships with past clientele, improved staff morale and attracted like-minded applicants that help us continue to expand upon our mission.”

Sally MosesOwner of 212 Marketplace

• motivate • educate• innovate

78% report that they would be “more excited” to be working at a business that became a Certified Green Restaurant®

-May 2010 Technomic Survey


Stay Ahead of Legislation

Over 100 Cities have banned various polystyrene formsScores of Cities now require recyclingConventional Incandescent bulbs banned. Begins 2012-2014Over 90% of that legislation has come in the past couple yearsPlastic bag bans Green building codes

And more to come….


Good for the Planet

"It is innovative programs like the Green Restaurant Association that give our country promise to forge a strong economy based upon strong and healthy environmental practices”

-Jerry Lawson EPA Director, Energy Star® for Small Business

• reduce energy consumption• reduce water use• reduce waste• reduce hazardous chemicals


GRA’s Recipe for Success

environmental assessmentenvironmental consultingverificationcertificationpublic relations & marketingexclusive listingseducation

A GRA Green Restaurant Specialist will hold your hand through the whole process to achieve success. You are not alone to figure it out.


Environmental Assessment

GRA specialist analyzes your products, equipment, food, and all other items related to GRA’s 7 environmental categories in order to develop a baseline of steps and points.

The Standards

http://dinegreen.com/restaurants/standards.asp


Environmental Consulting

Step strategyGRA will present the best steps to achieve certification.

Your specialist will work with you until you have full buy-in on the necessary steps to reach the goal. She will answer all your questions regarding function, costs, environmental impacts… or anything else you need in order to feel 100% comfortable with the necessary steps to achieve certification.


Environmental Consulting

Step implementationThe GRA environmental

specialist will help you to implement the environmental steps by working with service providers, manufacturers, landlords, and government in order to ensure successful implementation. This is one of the most important values the GRA brings to the table.

“It’s the easiest way possible for our members to go green. Again,

they’ve identified the products and that’s why, to us, it’s a no

brainer and that’s what makes the program so successful.”

-Rick Sampson

CEO of New York State Restaurant Association


Verification

GRA performs a new assessment once it is determined that you’ve implemented the necessary changes.

All your steps and points are backed up by invoices and other empirical evidence

If you achieve the minimum certification standards (see next page), then you become a Certified Green Restaurant® . If you don’t pass, we help you implement the remaining necessary changes.


Marketing & PRTactics & Signage Window decal Green Label w/Steps & Points Personalized landing page Table tents Bathroom signage Point- of-sale eco-facts Pins for employees/customers Menus Ads Uniforms Press Release


Green Label Once your business

becomes a Certified Green Restaurant®, all your environmental accomplishments will be 100% transparent to the public the Green Label to the right, listing your certification level, steps, and points.

All changes are updated automatically in real time.


Green Label: Step Details



EDUCATION IS KEY SignsRestaurants receive signs for recycling, energy/water conservation,

and the environmental steps. The better the signage, the better the program works.

Staff trainingGRA gives presentations to staff, so they understand a basic level of

how they are positively impacting the environment at their workplace.

The Green Restaurant Association

It Just Makes Sense