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- Cooking up a sustainable future: insights of circular economy in the restaurantsPublication . Maia, Beatriz; Silva, Susana; Melo, António; Silva, Goretti; Azevedo, Daniel; Camões, Henrique; Melo, CarlaRestaurants increasingly prioritize promoting sustainability within their kitchen’s operations, focusing their offers on valuing raw materials as a central point of gastronomy, thus highlighting the importance of local, responsible consumption and respect for nature and the environment. The Circular Economy (CE) emerges as a new sustainability paradigm, uncovering valuable opportunities for organizations and customers, in harmony with the environment. This study aims to characterize good sustainable and circular practices in the restaurant sector, understanding how endogenous products can enhance food waste reduction. Through a qualitative methodology, nine semi-structured exploratory interviews were carried out with restaurant experts, to gain in-depth knowledge into sustainable and CE practices used in restaurants. By conducting a thematic analysis, three main themes emerged 'Positioning and Branding,' 'Circular Economy,' and 'Product and Food Waste'. 'Positioning and Branding' covers the evolution of an eco-conscious mindset in organizations, from the inception of sustainable thinking to the imperative for change. It emerges from the categories: ´Organization, actions, and partnerships’, ‘Challenges and success factors’, and ‘Awareness’. The theme 'Circular Economy,' presents circular practices within daily restaurant operations, their understanding of circular concepts, and the progress made in adopting these behaviors. It arises from three categories: ‘Circularity’, ‘Resource Management’ and ‘Transition’. The 'Product and Food Waste' theme addresses concerns related to product and food waste, including supplier selection, innovative gastronomic offerings, and food waste minimization strategies. It is based on the categories: ‘Suppliers and Raw Materials’, ‘Food Waste Minimization”, and ‘Gastronomic Offer’. The findings reveal a growing awareness of the need for sustainability and circular practices in the restaurant sector. Organizations are actively seeking ways to reduce food waste, optimize sourcing, best operating procedures and offer more sustainable menus representing significant progress toward a more sustainable future in the restaurant business.
- Moving toward sustainability and circular economy in the restaurant industryPublication . Melo, António; Azevedo, Daniel; Silva, Susana; Silva, Goretti; Maia, Beatriz; Camões, Henrique; Barreto Salgueiro de Melo, Carla IsabelThe United Nations 2030 Agenda emphasizes reducing food waste through responsible consumption and production. The concept and principles of Circular Economy (CE) propose rethinking the entire food chain to minimize environmental impact. This chapter aims to characterize the adoption and implementation level of CE dimensions by restaurants in specified regions of Portugal. An exploratory quantitative study was performed through an online survey, with responses from 304 restaurants. Descriptive data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 28.0. Key findings include significant food and beverage management practices, such as root-to-stem utilization and effective portion control. However, less emphasis is placed on practices like donating surplus food and promoting vegetarian options. Waste management practices, particularly waste separation, are widely adopted; however, energy and water-saving measures are lagging. The main conclusions highlight the need for increasing awareness, supportive governance, and investment in infrastructures to enhance CE adoption by restaurants and the food service industry. The results also advocate for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to overcome barriers and promote sustainable practices in the restaurant sector.