by Jbs052209c3 — May 27, 2009—Green Seal ecolabel has released GS-46, a new environmental standard for restaurants and foodservices. The standard is a result of both extensive stakeholder input and comprehensive lifecycle research in all areas of a restaurant’s environmental impact, including such things as food, energy and water use, and waste. The results of the research will reportedly help operators prioritize where to focus their greening efforts.
The research found that food is the largest source of environmental impact from a food service operation and that food production contributes between 17 and 32 percent of all global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. GS-46 focuses on responsible food purchasing and waste reduction to reduce the impact from food.
GS-46 applies to all types of food service operations, including full-service, limited-service (e.g. fast-food, quick-casual), non-commercial, and catering operations. The standard has three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Operators are encouraged to use the standard as a guide to implementing sustainable practices, and apply for certification online.
