Developed to provide actionable advice for the hospitality sector, the new Biodiversity Toolkit aims to help them manage their impact on the natural world, whilst also boosting both company reputation and long-term resilience.
Although not explicitly targeted at garden centre restaurants and cafe services, as our industry effectively trades in biodiversity, nurturing both gardens and the planet, it would seem that our sector’s hospitality offerings in particular, should be at the forefront of this kind of approach.
Seeding change for environment and business
By actively advocating for biodiversity, hospitality businesses can foster interest in diverse ingredients. This can drive positive change upstream in the food supply chain, influencing what is grown, raised, and caught. Furthermore, it can influence how people eat in restaurants and, ultimately, their eating habits at home – supporting farmers and producers.
From a business perspective, operating with biodiversity, restaurants can boost their creativity in the kitchen, differentiate from competitors, enhance their bottom line, help attract and retain (environmentally-conscious) staff and prepare the business for future.
Free to download, the toolkit offers ways for hospitality businesses to support and protect biodiversity across all facets of their operations, from kitchen kit-outs to menu design. Practical examples in the form of case studies are included from a variety of organisations, including pubs, casual dining restaurants, a national park, and the Knepp Estate. An overview of relevant legislation in the UK is also provided, helping businesses to understand currently current and anticipated expectations, helping to safeguard against potential legislative changes in the future.
Covering three key focus areas, the kit addresses:
- The Built Environment and Operations: Enhancing biodiversity through energy use, water stewardship and property management.
- Menus and Sourcing: Creating biodiversity-friendly menus by diversifying ingredients, sourcing sustainably and reducing reliance on products linked to deforestation.
- The Value Chain and Collaboration: Sourcing from suppliers, support regenerative farming and participate in collective biodiversity initiatives.
The message is clear. Big or small, businesses can help protect biodiversity in many forms and there are always opportunities to get creative.
