LEAF Releases 2019 Green Restaurant Guide

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VICTORIA — LEAF (Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice) has released its annual Guide to Canada’s Greenest Restaurants for 2019, which features nearly 100 LEAF-Certified facilities across Canada.

“Choosing to dine with a restaurant that cares about its environmental impact is helping create change in the foodservice industry and moving Canada towards a greener future,” says Janine Windsor, LEAF president and founder.

LEAF certifies restaurants on a three-level system, offering a single level of certification for smaller establishments, such as cafés and food trucks. Canadian restaurants that have achieved the highest level of certification (Level 3) include:

  • Locals Restaurant – Food from the Heart of the Island, Courtenay, B.C.
  • The Coup, Calgary
  • River Café, Calgary
  • Degrees, Winnipeg
  • Cafe Belong, Toronto
  • Chic Alors!, Quebec City

Alberta and Ontario continue to be the cities with the largest commitment to LEAF-Certified restaurants, with 18 and 29 certifications respectively. There are also several Ontario-based establishments currently working towards accreditation, including 360 Restaurant at the CN Tower, Gusto 101 and George Brown College.

The guide also recognizes winners of the 2019 LEAF Awards, which were announced earlier this year at the Restaurants Canada Show. Winners include:

  • Most Improved — Craft Beer Market (seven locations across Canada)
  • Greenest Restaurant — River Café, Calgary
  • Eco-Innovator — A&W Canada

In addition to recognizing the achievements of participating restaurants, Windsor also announced that LEAF is set to launch a Sustainability Training for Foodservice Leadership program and Certificate in Foodservice Sustainability for Hospitality Students and Workers this September.

Uber Eats also recently signed on as a sponsorship partner with LEAF in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of third-party restaurant delivery. “This is a relatively new service addition to the foodservice industry and the environmental impacts have yet to be measured. We are happy that Uber Eats is taking this important aspect into consideration and look forward to working with them and their members to implement environmental initiatives,” says Windsor. “Through the process of LEAF certification, we can help Uber Eats members reduce their environmental impact and also save money on operational costs.”

LEAF Certification offers accreditation to restaurants demonstrating efforts in environmental and sustainable foodservice practices. Certified restaurants must meet minimum requirements in 10 key areas of sustainability, including energy use; food purchasing and menu items; supplies; building and location; furnishing and decorative items; chemicals; waste and recycling; employees; policy and innovation; and water use.

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