Moving Onward 2022!

In This Member Letter: Sustainable Winter Tips, Reduce Costs, and St. Louis Earth Day Festival!

Dear Friend,

Congratulations on surviving another tumultuous year!

We humbly applaud you for keeping your teams' hopes, passions, and dreams alive through the past years' challenges. And we thank you for continuing to make sustainability a priority in your operations. Looking forward into 2022, I have great hope that our region will continue to grow its sustainability movement with the continued support of our 115+ restaurants in the GDA. We will remain vigilant in our mission to maintain our environmental stewardship through collaborations and innovative new practices. GDA is here to support you! With cold weather upon us, here are some tips on how to be more sustainable and save money. Let's keep going, keep pushing!

Oh, and the St. Louis Earth Day Festival will be here before you know it, so don't forget to register as a food vendor in the link below if you haven't already!

- Ben Daugherty (GDA Program Manager)

Sustainable Winter Tips

Easy on the Salt

Floor Mats can save your butts (literally). They also keep moisture, slips, salts, chemicals, dust, toxins, and bacteria from spreading through out your space. Routine sanitizing schedules should be implemented. Ask your rug provider about mats made from recycled materials. NFSI provides a long list of reasons to prioritize the use of floor mats.

Insulation, door airlocks, and weather stripping around doors and windows should all be checked to keep the hot air in, cold air out, and the heating bill down. Check air flow vents inside that need to be dusted to maximize airflow.

Equipment Maintenance

St. Louis Earth Day Festival Returns!

April 23-24th at The Muny Grounds in Forest Park

Be A Part of the GDA Cafe Experience! Registration Ends Soon!

Food Vendor Information

*The Festival is rain or shine, and we are fully optimistic that it will happen. In the event that it is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, we will provide a full refund of vendor registration fees.

$ustainable Money $avers

Stop Giving Disposables Away for Free!!!

The trends for off-premise sales are already on a steep incline and they really ramp up during the winter months as diners are less likely to venture out when weather is extreme. Instead of stuffing each to-go with disposables, implement online ordering with options to add disposable cutlery, napkins, condiments, and compostable straws as an add on. Include a cost with each item. This will help eliminate waste for customers who don't need disposables and save you money. Remember to prioritize compostable products whenever possible.

Good House Keeping - Water Temp Control

According to the FDA, hand sinks should be set between 100-120℉ and dish machines should operate at 165-180℉ degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sanitation. If you are setting the water hotter, however, you're wasting energy that could cost hundreds of dollars per year. Also, adding low-flow aerators can reduce the hot water used by each hand sink by 60 percent. Installing just one could save 9,000 gallons of hot water each year. For dishwashing, remember that high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves can save you even more.