The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) officially launched yesterday with 85 founder members pledging to run their restaurants in a more sustainable way.
Speaking at the launch event at the Sanctum Soho Hotel in London last night, SRA chief executive Giles Gibbons said the association was well its way to having 1,000 members by the end of this year with 200 restaurants currently 'very close' to signing up.
According to results of a survey by Toptable, 93 per cent of its users think that restaurants and chefs should lead by example in promoting healthy and sustainable food choices.
Guidance and support
The SRA has been set up to give consistent guidance and support to the restaurant sector on sustainability and will audit all members' sites, giving them gold, silver or bronze status. Marks depend on how resturants fare in three main areas: sourcing, environment and society.
“Restaurants are under increasing pressure to address a wide range of sustainability issues – from consumers, employees, the government and media. In order for restaurants to be successful long term, they can’t ignore those pressures,” said Gibbons.
Individual restaurants and chains already signed up as members include Leon, Carluccio’s, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Moro, Due South, The Felan Fach Griffin, Canteen, Gurnard’s Head, Benares, Wahaca, Feng Sushi, Rockfish Grill, Caffe Caldesi and Seahorse Restaurant.
For information on how to join visit www.thesra.org.
The SRA will also be at Hotelympia at London's ExCel this week at stand N2736