Focus on Diner Sustainability Demands

Diners commonly associate sustainability actions with menu ingredients, to-go packaging, and food waste. Discover what’s most important to them.

Sustainable Ingredients:
Meet Diner Demand for Environmental Stewardship

Diners place a premium on ingredients grown with environmental responsibility in mind. 90% of Sustainability Supporters and 72% of General Diners value ingredients produced with little to no negative impact to the environment.

Seasonal ingredients are also significant to diners, with 85% of Sustainability Supporters and 73% of General Diners citing them as important.

COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY: 53% of General Diners notice communications about a restaurant’s use of sustainable ingredients on restaurant menus. If sustainably sourced ingredients are on your menu, consider communicating them to differentiate your offerings

Percent of audiences who believe seasonal ingredients are important

WHEN DINERS WERE ASKED TO SHARE HOW THEY HAVE SEEN RESTAURANTS PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY, RESPONDENTS CALLED OUT HOW RESTAURANTS ARE OFFERING MORE VEGETABLES, ORGANIC OPTIONS, AND ETHICALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS.

DID YOU KNOW?

79% of Sustainability Supporters consider it important that the restaurant only provides napkins, utensils and condiments when you ask

Sustainable To-Go Packaging: Align with Diner Concerns About Waste

Diners prioritize more sustainable to-go solutions. 78% of General Diners and 91% of Sustainability Supporters consider recyclable packaging important, while 65% of General Diners and 81% of Sustainability Supporters value reusable options. Many also desire restaurants to provide single-use items only upon request

COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY: 65% of General Diners notice more environmentally friendly to-go packaging. If you already use environmentally friendly to-go packaging, consider calling it out in more significant ways, like on your online menu.

Sustainable Operations: Appeal to Diners’ Broader Social and Environmental Concerns

Diners’ sustainability priorities extend beyond ingredients and packaging, encompassing a range of operational practices. 81% of General Diners and 91% of Supporters view food donation programs as important, while 72% of all Diners and 89% of Supporters value recycling initiatives. Similar results are true for eco-friendly cleaning products used on site.

Avoiding food waste is perceived as a sustainable practice. 77% of General Diners consider multiple portion sizes to help avoid food waste as important for the environment.

COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITY: 53% of General Diners notice website information about actions restaurants are taking to make their operations more sustainable. Menu, social media, and in-restaurant signage are other key channels where diners notice this information.

When dining at a restaurant, how important is it that they donate excess food to charity?

When dining at a restaurant, how important is it that they have a recycling program?

When dining at a restaurant, how important is it that they use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies?

GENERAL DINERS AND SUSTAINABILITY SUPPORTERS WHO FIND IT SOMEWHAT, VERY, OR EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

General Diners

Sustainability Supporters