SUSTAINABILITY IN RESTAURANTS

1) ENVIRONMENTAL

i. Produce & Food Systems

• Make it Delicious

• Sense of Place

• Food Waste

• Use Everything! #pipitPPP Framework

• Ingredient waste type: bread, meat, seafood, bones, veg, dairy, drinks

• Using Supply chain “waste” : suppliers waste, community trees, native forage

• Prolong (creative uses)

  ii. Material & Building Systems

• Waste types : packaging, plastics, cleaning, paper, glass, charcoal/heat, electricity, water

• 2) ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

• Purchasing power/ sourcing

• Business models

• Future Industry planning

• Regional dining advocacy

• Banking/ clean money

• Offset

  3) SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Inclusive workplaces

• Community

• Mental Health (hospo owners)

• Policy advocacy

MAKE IT DELICIOUS

We prioritise flavour first and wider sustainability is just a happy externality of that.

Media Question : How do you get people to care about sustainability in cooking and eating?

Pipit focuses on taste and creativity, first and foremost.  Better sustainable produce just taste better. "Better" can be organic, local, picked closer to ripeness, uniquely native, delivered fresher etc.   We use farmed QLD Grouper fish (Rocky Point Aquaculture) that is a species protected in the wild, and yes it is supports a sustainable aquaculture approach but it is also just a tasty, delicious fish and that still is the highest criteria in why things land in our kitchen.  In our dining room, we also strongly share the stories of our produce and farmers. Every Pipit diner gets a map of our local producers at the end of the meal and we encourage locals and visitors to buy direct or visit them.  Fostering that direct connection is how we hope more people start to care 

SENSE OF LANDSCAPE

“….a meal at Pipit is one of newness, creativity and thoughtfulness. The food at Pipit actually tastes like the landscape around it — that is to say: beautiful, subtropical, with a saline hint of the ocean and dunes” New York Times review (2021)

• Our place, landscape, seasons. climate and environment fundamentally shapes our menu and restaurant.

• Being connected to seasonal changes makes us more mindful to care, value and consider our environment more. eg, observing changes in late fruit seasons are related to environmental change.

• We documented our place seasons and landscapes in the PIpit Book - Info> HERE

FOOD WASTE

Food waste is a key area that restaurants can innovate and inspire diners.

• Traditional practices may leave up to 50% of an animal or fish unused when focusing only on primary cuts. Our "use everything" principles aim for over 90% recovery, though creative cooking techniques

• Our mindset is more about "maximising ingredients" than "minimising waste".

• We aim to add value and elevate all our produce (and it’s “waste”)

• Costs and economic sustainability is part of this. Seafood/meats are accepted as “expensive” or “luxury” on plates, but some vegetables can be similar price per kilo. Throwing away offcuts is throwing away dollars (and potential flavour)

• Ben’s lessons from Noma, Copenhagen (2009-2011). “It first came from a creativity and flavour stance, but "sustainability" happened to cover much the same mindset. Noma taught me to look at suppliers, products and their by-products differently. It was always about "how do you use the whole thing?" Whether it's whole fish or whole tomato, the principle is the same. This time taught me to find or create luxury in everyday ingredients, and a mindset to treat all ingredients (and resources) as precious and valuable.”

We look at various opportunities to maximise whole ingredients in a wider system

• Produce (sourcing)

• Plated (primary cuts, secondary cuts)

• Preserves (leftovers into ferments, preserves )

• Prints (art)

• Prolong (plates, ceramics)

SEASONAL MENUS

• We showcase seasons by often blending fresh in season as well preserves from past years. See Three Vintages of Peas recipe > HERE

• Dishes will often show multiple methods to maximise a single ingredient. See Oysters recipe > HERE

RECIPES - 8 x core preserve recipes are shared in the Pipit Book. Info > HERE

BREAD

• Leftover bread made into miso, and fermented into “soy sauce” type dressings. Recipe Info > HERE

• Bread scraps are made into a porridge to go batch into new bread. Recipe Info > HERE

MEAT

• Duck and fish offcuts are cured into charcuterie and hams. Recipe info > HERE

• Online duck salumi class and Recipe info > HERE

• Set menu offcuts used in staff meals, pop-up events and bistro menus

SEAFOOD

• Seafood offcuts are fermented into garums, Recipe info > HERE

• Fish cuts (belly, tail etc) made in to hams. Recipe info > HERE

• Leftover offcuts and head meat used in terrines. Recipe info > HERE

• Whole animals are honoured and fish are further expressed in art prints. Info > HERE

SEAFOOD BONES

• Fish bone waste into ceramics in collaboration with Grit Ceramic. Info > HERE. This is small scale but we think there is potential to scale the waste in wider seafood wholesale supply chains

• Grouper bone is roasted and made into a flour (for biscuit canape). Recipe info > HERE

• Bones and frames are smoked/dried and used in stocks, sauces etc

VEG & FRUITS

• We use all parts as much as possible from stem, flowers, leaves, seeds, core etc. Example romanesco dish > HERE

• Pickling helps keep vegetables for longer. Recipe in Pipit Book > HERE

• “Tasty Waste Paste” ferments much of our veg trim into our signature dipping sauce/ pantry staple. Recipe info > HERE

• Surplus preserved into seasonings and vinegars. Example Shiso Vinegar with leftover herbs. Recipe info > HERE

• Surplus fruit scraps used in infused alcohol. Example Guava Bitter - Info > HERE

• We still have green waste and donate weekly (eg 10-15L) to Pottsville Community Garden’s compost

• Fruits are preserved in juices, jellies, and powders. Example petite fours > HERE

DAIRY

• Caramelised whey in cheese making process. Recipe info > HERE

DRINKS

• Wine leftovers converted to fortified digestifs, vinegars or used as cooking alcohol

• Coravin preservation systems used to minimises wine wastage

SUPPLY CHAIN

We seek out symbiotic relationships to use waste from our suppliers in other food processes.

Examples:

1. Spent grain from beer production (used in dessert) - Stone & Wood Brewery. Recipe info > HERE

2. Spent botanics from gin distilling (used in dessert) - Husk Distillery

3. Waste bay lobster shells (used in stock) - Australia Bay Lobster

4. Fruit waste from farm pruning practices. Example young green mangos from Picone Farm. Pickle Recipe Info > HERE

5. Fruit waste from coffee farm for ferments = Zentveld Coffee

6. We hope to further expand using the seafood waste from wholesale suppliers (for garums etc)

COMMUNITY TREES PROGRAM

• We connect with local residents, farms, schools who have surplus or small batch things (eg guava, lemon aspen, curry leaf etc). People will often reach out with things and ask if we can use it

• Using surplus via “Community Trees” is both an environmental and social response. Example with Pottsville Preschool > HERE

FORAGING / NATIVES

1. Maximisiing native and edible plants found in backyards, public spaces and streets. Often these are planted for decorative reasons and not widely understood as edible (lily pily, seaweed, wattle flowers, native tamarind, beach greens). Foraging maximises food that would be otherwise unused and helps our menus share unique local flavours

2. READ: Karakalla At Home (Mindy Woods) is as a great native ingredients resource for Bundjalung country

We purposely extend the conversations about produce and waste as a key point of difference. Creative expressions include

1. Fish bone waste reused in ceramics with Grit Ceramics

2. Fish leather learning > example HERE

3. Gyotaku Seafood artwork > more info HERE

4. Dining events with environmental focus. Example, “Sensational Seaweed” advocacy >HERE

5. Social media. Example, sea urchins as one of highest shared posts > HERE

6. Produce Map. Every guest gets one when dining > more info HERE

Bin collections and cleaning services is $10K of our annual business cost so minimising waste is both economic and environmental

MINIMISING PACKAGING

• We ask all suppliers to ship in reusable and returnable containers to reduce polystyrene & cardboard boxes as much as possible

• We reuse glass bottles from alcohol for storage

• We don’t use wine in kegs or bags, but note them as really interesting to minimise waste and maintain quality (reduce oxidisation)

PLASTICS

• No cling film used since opening

• Invested in more sturdy plastic containers that can be washed and re-used more (ie can last 2 years)

• We don’t use vacuum bags and use different methods if we use waterbath (eg coating in bees wax for low temp or packing in jars or containers for higher temps)

• Use biodegradable or reusable piping bags

CLEANING CHEMICALS

• Where possible we switched to organic and lower chemical products

• We have not resolved some proprietary options (eg Winterhalter detergents)

OFFICE/ PAPER

• Reusable bags for staff tips and banking to reduce plastic/envelopes. See more > HERE (idea from Agrarian Kitchen)

• When buying pens, we use brands with recycled plastics

• We still have paper waste from printing frequently changing menus. We create decorative crafts with waste menus > Example

• We note the move towards QR/ paperless menus in other venues

BAR & GLASS

• Filtered water and sparkling water taps. We don’t support bottled water

• Recycling as per normal Council bin services

• Cans and wine bottles collected as ‘Earn & Return’ via a local charity partner

• We have not resolved broken/chipped glassware that can’t be recycled by Councils. Silo UK book notes crushing and reusing their glass

CHARCOAL/ HEAT WASTE

• Wood fired cooking is based on using all different heat to maximise the energy. This includes grilling, smoking, drying.

• Maximise all heat to reduce charcoal waste. Example of low heat smoking > HERE

• More on passive cooking and heat used in wood-fired cooking > HERE

• We don’t use gas. Wood-fire was a flavour/ cooking choice but the 2022 Melbourne Food and Wine Forum (*see links below) says one of the best ways to lower carbon footprints is to not use gas in cooking. We note ACT’s policy changes (2023) to phase out gas in new buildings as a key change we will likely see more of.

ELECTRICITY/ ENERGY

• Retrofitted glass louvres and screens to passively vent equipment heat overnight and in summer

• Installed blinds and window tinting to reduce sun and indirect heating in summer

• We have been unsuccessful in adding solar power due to cost and approvals, but note our whole building roof (800m2) would be needed to bring power bills down close to nil

• Air-conditioning is one of our highest electricity challenges. Flies, humidity, wind, and open kitchens means our external windows are closed in summer to improve guest experiences

• We have LED lights and do not turn on some lights outside of service times

WATER

• Ice and water in prep (cleaning vegetables) is collected and used on our pot plants

• Removed our ice machine and make ice by trays (READ: about waste in ice machines in Silo UK’s book).

• We have not resolved commercial dishwashers as high water users

• We do not use “e-water” solutions but note their positive use by other venues

PURCHASING POWER / SOURCING

Media Question: What do you think the role of the hospitality industry is, when it comes to the sustainability movement? For example, many people believe the hospitality industry is uniquely placed to shape and influence food trends more generally.

Restaurants are hopefully influencing and shaping food trends  but our best and immediate influence is "purchasing power".  As a small business, Pipit tracks and spend approx  $60K annually on sustainable seafood (as ambassadors of Good Fish Project). That is a tiny food cost compared to other bigger businesses but let's consider that $60K is a salary in someone else's business.  Which people do we want to our dollars on?  Local ones, sustainable ones, local producers we have built a connection with. Collectively the hospitality industry would be millions of dollars of purchasing influence!

• 100% of our food spend is spend with local businesses and wholesalers  ($124 000 annual)

• 100% of our drinks spend is Australian (we don't support imported wines) ($55 000 annual) 

• We buy from 40+ local business (within 30-45min drive) - and this is acknowledged in the Pipit Produce map that every diner gets

• We source our meats sustainably considering the AMCS Seafood Guide (Good Fish Project), free-range farms, pest eradication of game meats. See info >HERE

BUSINESS MODELS

• COVID and Cost of Living pressures (2020-2025) show the economic vulnerabilities of our business, region and industry.

• We support the wider discussion about dining costs and pricing for industry change and wage reform.

  • READ: Why Restaurants Are Fucked (2020) and $50 mains are here to stay (2022)

  • LISTEN - DIrty Linen Podcast (2023) Pricing Series. PBK Noodles & Nomad and economics Cornersmith (2024)

  • SEE - The competitive impact of large hospo groups VS small restaurants, as noted with Gourmet Traveller Awards (2024+)

• We adhere to the Fair Work but note hospitality wages are still lower than other sectors. Workers saving for home-ownership or to own restaurants is an issue of economic/social sustainability. READ: Wage surcharging by Pasture (Auckland)

FUTURE INDUSTRY PLANNING

• We are a chef-owner business model and we aim to train, empower and co-invest towards business ownership

• Pop-up events are used to support young chefs. See Chefs Collab info > HERE

• Promote women in leadership . See Girl Gang mentors booklet info > HERE

• 10% dining discounts for chef apprentices and trainees to help regional training. See> HERE

• Mentoring and work experience with high school hospitality students

• We hire apprentices, and junior roles.

• We support the wider recognition of front of house as a profession. Eat Easy awards > HERE & Good Food Service awards > HERE

• Supporting return -to-work mums. Subsidised home care is available to hospo night shift workers. See >HERE (NSW)

• Collaborative wIne training with local venues. See Hospo Wine Group> HERE

ADVOCATING REGIONAL DINING & VISITOR ECONOMY

• Dining supports flow-on economic and social networks READ: “Fine dining reshaping local communities” Landline article > HERE

• We actively collaborate with other Northern Rivers venues to support industry training and regional networks. (eg Hospo Wine Group and Chefs Collabs with over 30 restaurants)

• We support Tweed Tourism famils and promote the region as a dining destination. “the Northern Rivers officially the most foodie region in NSW” (2022) READ Regional Restaurants Good Food Guide > HERE

• Support region-to-region famils for business mentoring and industry development (eg 2023 Riverina -Murray hospo owners visited Tweed, and Wine Tasmania tour). We hope to do more outbound programs to learn from others

BANKING/ CLEAN MONEY

• “Clean money” is an interesting area that small businesses can look at. Example - Bank Australia, Summerland Credit Union as BCorp banks and ethical super funds etc.

OFFSETS

• We do not currently pay for offset (mostly due to costs and audit measures) but note it as valid area

• CARBON OFFSET. Carbon neutral targets and measures are possible with environmental consultants who do this work

• SEAFOOD OFFSET. We see innovation in Seafood Positive/ One Fish Two Fish. $1 per kg of seafood is paid to be invested into marine habitat projects. It would cost us approx $1K / year as a small venue

ELEVATING TEAMS / INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES

We have zero tolerance on drug use, harrassment, bullying and misconduct

We focus on positive culture, training pathways and well-being in our team, with initiatives like:

• Staffie Sunday - monthly team sharing, training and input into business development

• Team tours to connect and learn with local producers (quarterly)

• Supporting personal projects, pop-ups and sabbaticals

• Training support and inter-generational industry planning (see Part 2)

• We meet all Fair Work award requirements

• We share tips equally to all roles

READ: Valuing Teams (MSIX). We elevate our team further in:

• Open plan design where all roles are seen - therefore hopefully more understood> respected > valued (by team and guests)

• Team advocacy on social media - sharing about people /roles, especially junior roles

• Team advocacy on website and print menus -  all team names listed

• Elevating FOH and Young Chefs (see Part 2)

COMMUNITY

Other ways we support and connect with our wider community

• Voucher donations for various charity, local schools and fundraiser

• Parents Date Night with local daycares. 2023 example > HERE

• Fundraising. 2022 Flood Raffle > HERE

• Business Giveaways. 2021 Small business owners > HERE

MENTAL HEALTH - Small business owners

• We support and advocate for the wider respect of hospitality professionals

• Negative guest behaviours impacts team well-being and ultimately impacts economic sustainability to retain staff and owners

  • The responsibility of guests. READ: Post by VanBones (2023)

  • Coping with online reviews. READ: “Say Don’t Slay” hospo campaign (2021)

• We use New Access for Small Business (free mental health coaching with Beyond Blue)

• We are part of the Pottsville Business Group supporting local owners

POLICY ADVOCACY

• Pop-ups and event can explore producers and wider land management issues. 2021 agroecology example > HERE

• “Restaurants and Place-Making” (policy advocacy) > HERE. Restaurants can engage, inform, and advocate many policy conversations such as:

• Mixed use buildings and street activation policy 

• Streetscape policy (edible plants, community gardens)

• Transport planning (*most of our diners have to drive)  

• Rural lands and urban sprawl (leasing threats to our farm suppliers) 

• Housing affordability (housing in jobs offers and lower wage workers) 

• Green building design (there is no clear guide for restaurant fit outs) 

TALKS

1. Full Circle Restaurants - Talk at Kita Food Festival Malaysia 2024

2. Designing Valuing in Restaurants - Talk at Marketing Science Ideas Exchange 2024

3. Design Thinking & Restaurants - Talk at Design Conference 2024

   AWARDS

4. NSW Quality Tourism Program: Sustainability Tourism Accredited 2024

5. Destination North Coast Tourism Awards - Business Leadership Award 2024

6. Tweed Council Sustainability Awards 2023

7. Sustainability and Innovation Finalist in 2019 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards

   MEDIA

8. ”Watch your Waste Line” 2021 - The Australian

9. ”How to Embrace Sustainability” 2022 - Concrete Playground

10. Well Traveller with Tweed Tourism Company

11. Australia’s Most Sustainable Restaurants - 2023 - Urban List

VENUE CASE STUDIES

Other Australian venues to look to:

1. Agrarian Kitchen TAS- Sustainability Practices

2. Brae VIC - Sustainability Statement

3. Bar Midland VIC- sourcing only within Victoria

4. RE: Bar NSW - “never wasted” menus, circular economy

5. Future Food Systems VIC - demonstration project

READING / RESEARCH

1. BOOK: Silo: The Zero Waste Blueprint by Douglas McMaster (2019) . UK-based info, but very good in showing clear action by ingredient and kitchen systems.

2. BOOK/ GUIDE: No Mise En Plastic (UK) -practical guide for chefs on kitchen systems

3. LISTEN: Melbourne Food and Wine Industry Forum (2022) - Why Design Matters. Jeremy McLeod/ Breath Architects talks about carbon footprints and design fitout

4. RESEARCH: Cameron Matthews (2016) - Churchill Fellowship tour & report - Sustainability in high end restaurants.

5. AUST FOOD WASTE POLICY & RESEARCH

6. MENU 2034: Future of Food : Synthesis (Singapore)

   POLICY GUIDES

7. LOCAL POLICY: 2009 Sustainability Guide for Hospitality (by NSW Business Chamber). It’s old, but we archive it here for good handy basics.

8. LOCAL POLICY: Restaurant and Catering Assoc (2022) - 10 Ways to Make Your Restaurant More Sustainable

9. INTERNATIONAL POLICY: Michelin Green Star (2020). It doesn’t give practical hints, but helps give some policy criteria

10. INTERNATIONAL POLICY (UK): Sustainable Restaurant Association and Food Made Good Standards (accreditation)