Resources

 We've put together some resources to help you get started on your journey to becoming more sustainable in your business practices. Bookmark this page for updates and tools as we continue this journey together!   

Reducing Food Waste in Restaurants

The Business Case For Reducing Food Loss And Waste: https://champions123.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/the-business-case-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-restaurants.pdf

• The average benefit-cost ratio for food waste reduction was 7:1 over a three-year time frame. • Within the first year of implementing a food waste–reduction program, 76 percent of the sites had recouped their investment. Within two years of implementing a program, 89 percent of the sites had recouped their investment. • By reducing food waste, the average site saved more than two cents on every dollar of cost of goods sold (COGS). • Key strategies for achieving food waste reduction were to measure the food waste, engage staff, reduce food overproduction, rethink inventory and purchasing practices, and repurpose excess food.

Increasing Recycling

7 Easy Steps to Improve Your Business' Recycling Efforts: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/7-easy-steps-to-improve-your-business-recycling-efforts/

Camden County Recycling Rules – what they accept and don’t accept

https://www.camdencounty.com/service/environmental-affairs/recycling/

Poster: https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Spring-Recycling-Campaign-English-and-Spanish.pdf

Reduce Pollution in Restaurants

https://www.montana.edu/pollution-prevention/restaurant.html

Tips on reducing pollution impact.

The National Restaurant Association’s Conserve Program

The National Restaurant Association’s Conserver program is serving up sustainability by providing resources to explore and learn about greening the restaurant business. Conserve's best practices and training tools can help you turn your passion for sustainability and business efficiency into action.  

https://conserve.restaurant.org/

The National Restaurant Association’s Guide to Sustainable Seafood 

To Restaurant Association has produced a guide to sourcing sustainable seafood to help maximize your restaurant’s environmental stewardship and to add more seafood options to the menu.

https://restaurant.org/sustainable-seafood-sourcing

The Green Restaurant Association (GRA)

GRA is a not-for-profit organization that provides resources, education, and supports for restaurants throughout the country seeking to become more environmentally responsible. Since 1990, the Green Restaurant Association has built an extensive database of environmental goals and resources for the restaurant industry. 

EPA WaterSense at Work (PDF)
Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional Facilities
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-02/documents/watersense-at-work_final_508c3.pdf
 

o Information for Restaurants
The largest uses of water in restaurants are associated with equipment and processes that take place in the kitchen. Restrooms follow kitchens as the second highest water use in restaurants.
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/types-facilities#Restaurants

o Saving Water in Restaurants Factsheet (PDF)
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-01/documents/ws-commercial-factsheet-restaurants.pdf

o Case Study: Restaurants Install Water-Efficient Commercial Kitchen Equipment (PDF)
Learn how three green restaurants in the country are saving water and energy by implementing a number of different best management practices.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-01/documents/ws-commercial-casestudy-certified-restaurants.pdf

Pre-Rinse Spray Valves
Pre-rinse spray valves—often used in commercial and institutional kitchens—are designed to remove food waste from dishes prior to dishwashing. By switching to a high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valve, a commercial or institutional kitchen can save more than $110 annually in energy and water costs.
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/pre-rinse-spray-valves
 

Low-Flow Pre-Rinse Spray Valves Save Water and Energy (PDF)
A low-flow pre-rinse spray valve is one of the easiest and most cost-effective water saving devices any food service operation can install. New low-flow valves on the market work just as well as the older, inefficient valves but reduce water use by 50 percent.
https://northgeorgiawater.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Spray-Valve.pdf

·Water Leak Cost Calculator
https://fishnick.com/resources/#water-leak-calculator

EPA Fix a Leak Week: March 14–20, 2022
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week

Checklist for Spotting Water Waste (PDF)
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-02/documents/ws-falw-commercial-checklist.pdf

Energy Star: Air-cooled Commercial Ice Makers
Overview, specifications, and buying guidance for automatic commercial ice machines https://www.energystar.gov/products/commercial_food_service_equipment/commercial_ice_makers
 

EPA WaterSense: Bathroom Faucets
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets

Connectionless (Closed System) Food Steamers
Connectionless food steamers typically use an average of one to two gallons of water per hour, while traditional boiler-based steamers use an average of 40 gallons of water per hour.
https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/water-efficient-technology-opportunity-connectionless-food-steamer

o EnergyStar Commercial Steam Cookers
https://www.energystar.gov/products/commercial_food_service_equipment/commercial_steam_cookers

 “3 Advantages of Going Tankless in Commercial Buildings”
https://www.pmmag.com/articles/102929-advantages-of-going-tankless-in-commercial-buildings
 

EnergyStar Commercial Water Heaters
https://www.energystar.gov/products/commercial_water_heaters 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

The DOE’s Energy Saver portal contains educational resources and tips for maximizing energy efficiency in a myriad of categories, such as heating and cooling, insulation, ventilation, landscaping, windows, doors, appliances, electronics, lighting, and vehicles.

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program provides countless resources for small businesses to increase energy efficiency, such as a free Action Workbook for Small Businesses, a free Portfolio Manager, webinars, and educational tools. The Portfolio Manager is the national standard tool that allows businesses to benchmark and track energy usage and water consumption. 

https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/resources_audience/small_biz

Explore the numerous ways to save on energy usage with guidance from the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, including upgrading lighting, implementing best practices for operations and maintenance, reducing technology use, saving water, reducing waste, and installing or purchasing renewable energy.

The link also contains a helpful checklist containing various energy saving measures for operations and maintenance, lighting, equipment, heating and cooling, and occupant behavior and education.

https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/save_energy_commercial_buildings/ways_save

The below link contains energy saving tips for offices but most tips can be utilized by all businesses. The link also contains helpful DOE and EPA resources and links.

https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/tools/Small_Business_Offices_0.pdf

State of New Jersey

NJ’s Clean Energy Program offers significant financial incentives for businesses to integrate energy efficient and renewable technologies into new construction, upgrades, and new cooling & heating equipment installations.

https://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home

Employee Wellness Resources & Links 

The NJ Department of Health has created a free employer toolkit that has been pilot-tested in 24 New Jersey worksites. The toolkit includes evidence-based best practices that increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, lower accidents, reduce turnover, and much more.  

https://www.nj.gov/health/nutrition/services-support/worksites/

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has an employee wellness portal that provides a myriad of employee wellness programs, training opportunities, self-evaluations, and other evidenced based tips that employers can use to prevent illness, disease and promote healthier workplaces and employees. 

https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/index.html

Encouraging Walking and Biking to Work 

Metro DC put together a list of tips to encourage walking and biking to work. https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/become-a-bicycle-friendly-workplace

Bikes Make Life Better has a website portal with comprehensive information on promoting biking to work, incentives, and other supportive resources. 

https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/bike-perks-and-incentives-for-your-employees/

Please Note: We also encourage employers to inquire with the insurance providers about employee wellness resources they might provide. Discounts on insurance are often given for businesses who participate in insurance provider sponsored activities.