Green Dining Districts Jenn De Rose Green Dining

Green Dining Districts Jenn De. Rose Green Dining Alliance Program Manager LEED GA jenn. derose@greendiningalliance. org www. greendiningalliance. org

The Green Dining Alliance: An Overview ▶ The GDA certifies restaurants in sustainability with standards based on LEED certification. ▶ The GDA has doubled nearly every year since 2012, with 114 restaurants in the program. ▶ In 2018, GDA Certified restaurants diverted over 1, 769 tons of material from the landfill. ▶ The GDA is proud to have three current Green Dining Districts, where 25% of independent restaurants in commercial districts are GDA certified members.

The Green Dining Alliance: An Overview ▶ ▶ ▶ Reduce CO 2 footprint through energy efficient measures and save thousands of dollars through energy reduction and incentive programs Reduce food waste - saving money while reducing GHG emissions* Improve our food system, encouraging purchasing from local vendors Reduce single-use plastic waste Get rid of styrofoam - a toxic, non recyclable product that litters neighborhoods and poisons ecosystems *Food waste in landfills is one of the leading causes of climate change

The Green Dining Districts: An Overview ▶ Establish a sense of place through their environmental stewardship ▶ Receive recognition and loyalty from customers ▶ 73% of consumers say they would “definitely change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact” Nielsen ▶ Green Dining District tours are given several times a year with support from the Missouri Botanical Gardens and Citizens for Modern Transit ▶ Green Dining Districts can measure their total waste footprint - for example, the Delmar Loop diverts 137 TONS of material per year from the landfill ▶ Encourage other sustainability initiatives in your district

Customers, especially millennials, prefer to support companies with environmental policies “It is extremely or very important to me that companies implement programs to improve the environment. ” https: //www. nielsen. com/us/en/insights/news/2018/was-2018 -the-year-of-the-influential-sustainable-consumer. html

Maplewood’s Green Dining District

Sustainability Initiatives: Maplewood ● EPA Green Power Community supports 6 million killowatt-hours of green power annually: “Maplewood was the only Green Power Community to receive a leadership award for its collective support of renewable energy from businesses and residents…” ● Collective Composting in the Marietta Lot ● Tight-knit, supportive community ● Sustainability Commission (that’s you!) to help drive innovation ● Opportunities for improvement: several non-GDA restaurants, expand composting services, install more bike racks, introduce rain gardens

Sustainability Initiatives: The Loop ● Permeable pavement in two parking lots ● New on-street recycling bins ● Green Team that works on projects like adding natives to planters, improving recycling, and more ● Collaboration between GDA and U City to promote free recycling service for businesses and recycling collection center ● LEDs in street lights

Sustainability Initiatives: South Grand ● Permeable pavement in parking lots, sidewalks ● On-street recycling bins ● Native plant gardens with educational pieces ● Community space in Ritz Park ● LEDs in street lights ● More vegetarian restaurants and veggie options than anywhere else in the region

Current Certified Restaurants Next Steps Avenue - Kaldi’s on Demun - Kakao Chocolate - Pasteria - Sardella Crushed Red 5 Star Burgers - Encourage non-GDA members to join Thank current GDA members for their commitment Encourage current GDA members to do better (straws, compost) Ask for more sustainable events no styrofoam rule for participation Consider making the street more sustainable: - On-street recycling - Rainscaping - Native plants - Community garden - Community compost

Shameless plug! St. Louis Earth Day Festival April 27 -28

Shameless plug! Recycling Extravaganza April 7 10 am - 2 pm