Sustainability goals: Chipotle pledges to reduce food waste
10 Apr 2018 --- Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced its commitment to divert half of all of its restaurant waste from landfills by 2020. Since 2015 Chipotle has made significant strides towards reducing the amount of food and packaging waste bound for landfills, increasing its diversion rate from 31 percent that year to 40 percent in 2017. Now, the company is setting its sights on achieving a 50 percent diversion rate.
“Increasing our waste diversion rate to 50 percent is an ambitious goal, but we feel it's important to be assertive in our efforts to advance our purpose,” said Caitlin Leibert, head of sustainability at Chipotle. “We remain deeply dedicated to bringing guests great tasting food while upholding Chipotle's values and commitment to food made with respect for the land and environment.”
- Reduce: Programs such as Chipotle's Mindful Prep initiative, which trains restaurant staff to minimize food waste during the preparation process, along with targeted initiatives to reduce packaging, have lowered the amount of total waste upfront.
- Right-Sizing: Chipotle adjusts services and food preparation to its sales per restaurant, so less food is going to waste at the end of the day.
- Recycling: More in-restaurant recycling and compost programs are being implemented for food packaging disposal. With this, Chipotle is working towards a goal of ensuring 100 percent of its restaurants are recycling by 2020.
- Waste Audits: Chipotle goes a step further in waste management by using existing data to predict and manage its waste diversion rate. For example, after auditing its restaurants, the company replaced plastic wrap, a non-divertible product, with reusable lids to reduce the amount of material it sends to landfills. Chipotle is constantly assessing opportunities like these to reduce waste and support the environment.
- Food Donations: By 2020, Chipotle has pledged that 80 percent of its restaurants will participate in the Harvest Program, which donates leftover food to local community organizations.
- Composting: The company is also committed to increasing the availability of composting in its restaurants to 20 percent by 2020.
“Chipotle is never satisfied when it comes to minimizing its environmental impact,” says Kris Bunnell, CEO of RiverRoad Waste Solutions. “The company is always looking for new ways to go above and beyond to do what is best for their guests, the community and the environment.”
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