LEAF CERTIFIES GROWING NUMBER OF SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANTS IN CANADA
Annual List of Canada`s Greenest Restaurants Released in Time for Earth Day
CALGARY, AB, April 21, 2015 – Now more than ever, Canadians are choosing to put their money where their mouth is by choosing organic and local food products. And the restaurant industry is taking note and making exceptional changes to reduce the impact operations make on the environment. Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice (LEAF), a third-party certifier of sustainability for foodservice establishments, is one resource available for restaurants to consult with towards establishing a more sustainable business model that reduces waste, saves on energy and encourages the purchase of local and organic ingredients.
“From coast to coast, we are seeing a growing demand for more environmentally sustainable restaurants, cafes and even food trucks,“ said Janine Windsor, president, LEAF. “We know that 75 per cent of consumers will choose green restaurants when available, so the industry is adapting quickly to this end.“
These days most cities do, in fact, offer green restaurant options, and LEAF provides consumers with third-party validation in terms of just how environmentally friendly a restaurant is. Hundreds of indicators are measured towards providing a score on where a restaurant stands in its green efforts. Upon becoming certified, restaurants are than able to display a LEAF decal that ensures diners they are choosing an environmentally and socially responsible eatery.
In the past year, Winnipeg, MN, Victoria, B.C. and Edmonton, AB all got their first LEAF Certified restaurants. Craft Beer Market in Edmonton, AB was recently named the largest LEAF-certified establishment in Canada. Additionally, restaurants such as The Coup in Calgary, AB and Locals in Courtenay, B.C., which had previously reached Level 2 certification, did more in the past year to bump their credentials to the most advanced at a Level 3.
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About LEAF
Established in Calgary in 2009, LEAF is a non-profit organization that helps restaurants reduce their environmental impact and makes it easy for diners to identify green restaurants. The organization provides a benchmark to measure the environmental sustainability of foodservice establishments in Canada and fosters sustainability by working with the community to support the local economy.
Website: www.leafme.ca Twitter: @LEAF_Canada Facebook: L.E.A.F.
Media Contact: Rebecca Eras, Eras Communications Inc.Toll-free:1-855-403-6168 E: [email protected]
