Ethics, values and sustainability have become a priority for many businesses around the world and although there has been a shift in attitudes in recent years the hospitality industry is still lagging behind when it comes to social and environmental responsibility especially small operations and businesses starting out, often putting profits ahead staff welfare and the environment . Can making social and environmental responsibility a part of your business model increase profits and sales in the long term?
In this blog we will be outlining how implementing strong values and promoting healthy business ethics can increase sales and profits and help build a sustainable and lasting hospitality business.
Responsibility to staff
Building a strong and dedicated team can be a challenging task. Employers that demonstrate loyalty by actively offering staff a healthy work life balance and flexible working hours; especially for those staff that have children or other family commitments will create a healthy and happy working environment. Rewarding staff for good work and loyal service is also very important. Paying staff a fair wage demonstrates an employers commitment to social responsibility. Supporting staff with personal issues is also very important, a breakdown in a relationship, a bereavement or sickness for example.
Happy staff who feel valued and looked after create a good atmosphere on the floor and are more likely to go that extra step to ensure customers are happy and that a business is running smoothly. Happy staff are likely to recommend a good employer which will reflect well on a business.
Environmental responsibility
Following sustainable practices such as recycling, conserving energy and water, keeping wastage to a minimum, and using local suppliers can have a three prong effect; operating costs will fall, the impact on the environment will be less harmful and the positive publicity can enhance the reputation of a hospitality business.
Ways to make a restaurant business more sustainable
- Cook whats in season and produced locally. This will reduce a food and drink operations carbon footprint and support local farmers and producers, which in turn helps support local economies
- Choose your suppliers carefully; where possible use responsible suppliers that follow sustainable practices
- Grow your own produce and where possible compost organic waste
- Purchase energy efficient kitchen and bar equipment, water efficient glasswashers and dishwashers, energy efficient light bulbs. Although the initial outlay is greater, savings will be made further down the line as the price of utility bills will fall
- Use renewable energy sources
- Use meat and dairy from farms that use environmentally friendly farming methods
- Use fish that are taken from sustainable stocks
- Introduce biodynamic, carbon neutral and organic wines to your list
- Go paperless where possible
The hospitality industry has a responsibility to the environment and to the staff that work hard to make it function. Implementing just a few sustainable and ethical business practices can make a big difference to the environment and can create a happier and healthier work place for its work force. If you have found this post useful please feel free to leave an opinion and share.