Greening the Plate – How Restaurants Are Turning to Tech for Sustainability

With Earth Day 2025 recently passing, we thought it relevant to examine how restaurants are using technology to reduce their environmental impact.

While the industry has made great strides toward sustainability over the past few years, with energy-efficient kitchen equipment and waste-reducing software, we still have quite a way to go. With that said, it's important to see where we're at now to get a better idea of how far this evolution can go.

Food Waste Management

Food waste is still one of the most prominent issues plaguing the restaurant sector. U.S. establishments discard an estimated 22 to 33 billion pounds of food annually. This equates to around $25 billion in lost value each year. Such waste not only strains resources but also contributes to environmental degradation.​

To address this issue, some restaurants are integrating new technologies.

Chipotle Mexican Grill introduced a smart waste management system over the past few years, which tracks waste and converts food waste into energy. The initiative resulted in a 35% reduction in waste within the first six months of implementation.

Similarly, Winnow's AI-powered platform assists commercial kitchens by identifying and reducing food waste. It uses cameras and scales to monitor discarded items, giving kitchens real-time data, so they can adjust their purchasing and preparation practices.​

Energy-Efficiency

Commercial kitchens are among the most energy-intensive environments in the foodservice industry.

Energy costs add up to around 3% to 6% of the overall costs of running a restaurant, which can be a pretty substantial amount, depending on a restaurant's volume.

As such, many restaurants are turning to advanced energy management systems and intelligent kitchen appliances. These technologies allow for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated controls, optimizing energy usage across various equipment.

For instance, platforms like Qu's Smart Kitchen integrate IoT sensors and AI analytics to provide centralized control, reducing energy costs and extending equipment lifespan.

Water Conservation

It is no surprise that restaurants also consume a lot of water for food preparation, cleaning, landscaping, and more. Some establishments are adopting advanced technology to combat this heavy usage.

For instance, Wendy's has implemented new automated dishwashing equipment that reduces the average water use per cycle by 47%. Since this technology was implemented, nearly 1,580 units have been installed across company-owned and franchise locations, resulting in a total annual water reduction exceeding 84,000 kilogallons (enough to fill more than 7,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools).

Reducing Paper & Packaging

Around 11 million metric tons of plastic find their way into the ocean annually, and restaurants are a significant part of the problem.

Restaurant owners and operators are having to actively address packaging waste by adopting sustainable practices, such as transitioning from single-use plastics to biodegradable and compostable materials made possible by new technologies.

However, beyond material alternatives, some establishments are encouraging customers to bring their own containers for takeout or leftovers, which further supports waste reduction efforts.

Just Salad, for example, offers the "MyBowl" program, allowing customers to purchase a reusable bowl for $1. By bringing back the bowl for subsequent visits, customers receive a discount on their salad.

Customer-Facing Sustainability

On the topic of reusable takeout containers, customer-facing sustainability is gaining momentum in the restaurant industry.

Too Good To Go is a prominent example, as it connects users with local restaurants, cafes, and stores to purchase surplus food at discounted prices.

Customers receive "surprise bags" filled with unsold items that would otherwise go to waste, allowing them to enjoy quality meals while contributing to sustainability efforts!

Similarly, OLIO connects neighbors and local businesses to share surplus food, which helps reduce waste and promote community sharing!

Industry Support & Initiatives

To advance these initiatives, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) are guiding and validating restaurant sustainability efforts.​

For example, the NRA's "86 Food Waste" provides actionable steps for operators to reduce food waste, including better sourcing, menu engineering, diversion, donation, and employee engagement.

In collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund and Essity/Tork, the program may be able to yield up to $1.6 billion in annual profits for the industry.

The GRA offers a transparent certification process, so restaurants can earn "GreenPoints™" across eight environmental categories, including energy, water, waste, and food sourcing.

The association uses certification levels from 2-Star to 5-Star to demonstrate a restaurant's commitment to sustainability.

The Path Forward with EMERGING

Reaching full sustainability in the restaurant industry requires more than adopting new technologies. We must work together to educate and support owners and patrons in every relevant sector.

At EMERGING, we recognize that the path to sustainability is a collaborative journey. As a leading growth equity firm specializing in restaurant-entertainment concepts and restaurant technology, we are committed to supporting ventures that prioritize sustainable practices.

Our platform offers strategic growth resources, mentorship, and invaluable connections with influential industry insiders to assist in scaling sustainable ventures.

By fostering an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration, we aim to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices across the restaurant industry.

To learn more about how EMERGING is driving sustainability in the restaurant industry, get in touch with us today.

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