Why get designated as a Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant?

The Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant designation recognizes restaurants who have been making the commitment to sustainability based on their waste reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency, responsible sourcing, nutrition, and practices towards employees, consumers and community residents.

Help Diners Find You

In Pittsburgh, the restaurant scene is changing at a rapid pace. As the food scene evolves, it’s more important than ever for restaurants to make their values known to consumers. Today’s consumers care about supporting restaurants that are socially and environmentally responsible, care about their communities, and treat their employees well. Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants set themselves apart as businesses that care about these issues and give consumers a way to find them based on their values.

Save Money and Cut Costs

Sustainability pays. Literally. Sustainable behaviors, such as installing energy efficient appliances and lighting, conserving water, eliminating food waste, and using reusable dishware, are all great for the environment and the community, but they also cut energy use and supply costs for restaurants. Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants reduce waste and lower their carbon footprint which supports a healthy environment and saves money. It’s a double benefit.

Stay Ahead of Government Regulations

A number of the practices encouraged by Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants, such as eliminating Styrofoam and mandating composting of wastes, are already being enforced as laws in other U.S. cities. Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants are ahead of the curve in implementing these business practices, so if they become laws in Pittsburgh, they will have nothing to worry about.

Happier Employees

Your designation shows your employees that you value them. Having happier employees leads to an increase in productivity, increased morale, and ultimately lower employee turnover. All of these things lead to a stronger team within your restaurant.

Get More Publicity

We are proud of the nearly 150 restaurants that have earned their Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant designations, and we like to help them gain attention and publicity. In addition to providing these restaurants with window decals and other swag, we promote the restaurants through advertising, social media, and our websites. We pitch stories to publications and media outlets, host events, and even providing them with tools and resources to help them with their own marketing and promotion.

Become a Part of the Sustainable Restaurant Community

Being a part of the sustainable restaurant community connects our designated restaurants with one another. This allows them to share advice and recommendations about how to optimize their businesses for sustainability and profitability. Restaurants have been known to swap stories about the best vendors, energy-savings best practices, and how to use their designation to spread the word about their business. Additionally, designated restaurants are provided a plethora of resources and one-on-one assistance to help them improve, cut costs, and drive new guests through their doors.