Home Kitchen & Laundry Kimpton Restaurants Announces Three New Sustainability Initiatives

Kimpton Restaurants Announces Three New Sustainability Initiatives

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SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Restaurants, a collection of 45 chef-driven restaurants in the United States and Canada, and a recognized environmental pioneer, announces three new sustainable initiatives. As the latest addition to Kimpton’s EarthCare program, guests can enjoy in-house purified still and sparkling water, increased eco-friendly wine selections, and sustainable seafood dishes at restaurants in 21 cities.

Thirty percent of wine lists will feature eco-friendly selections by January 2010, including organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines from small and large producers. Only sustainable seafood selections will be offered at restaurants, in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program (currently in place). In-house purified water will be available through a national partnership with Natura by July 2009, to reduce disposable bottle usage. Each bottle sold will include a Kimpton contribution from most locations, and an additional donation from Natura, to The Nature Conservancy.

“Although each Kimpton restaurant offers a distinct experience, they all share a passion for, and dedication to, preserving the environment,” said Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer at Kimpton, and chair of the National Restaurant Association’s Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility. “This commitment is the reason that we have decided to raise the bar on green dining at our restaurants brand-wide.”

“By partnering with like-minded companies, such as Natura and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are able to take greater strides towards the future of eco-friendly dining,” said Frank Kawecki, director of Northeast and Mid Atlantic restaurant operations and chair of Kimpton’s restaurant EarthCare program. “These new sustainable menu options reflect the steadfast dedication we have towards protecting the environment for generations to come.”

Positive Environmental Impact

Using Natura’s reusable bottles instead of plastic bottles at a single Kimpton restaurant will reduce oil consumption by more than 100 barrels, and will reduce CO2 emissions by 46.8 tons annually. That is a reduction of 5,000 barrels of oil and 2,340 tons of CO2 emissions for all of Kimpton’s nearly 50 restaurants nationwide. By participating in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Restaurant Program, Kimpton restaurants pledge not to serve items from the Seafood Watch “Avoid” list and have trained wait staff to be knowledgeable about seafood choices. These practices play an active role in the protection and health of the oceans.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Kimpton,” said Marco De Plano, cofounder of Natura water. “By choosing Natura water, Kimpton guests and employees show their support of the environment by eliminating unnecessary transportation costs and reducing the millions of plastic bottles that go to waste every day.”

“Providing guests with sustainable wine selections and supporting environmentally conscious producers is something we feel passionate about at Kimpton,” said Emily Wines, master sommelier and director of wines at Kimpton. “We look forward to educating guests about the quality and flavor of eco-friendly wine.”

Kimpton’s sustainable initiatives date back to the company’s inception in 1981 and now include more than 50 daily environmentally friendly practices under the EarthCare umbrella. Already established EarthCare restaurant practices range from back-of-the-house recycling and fryer oil reuse to toxin-free kitchen cleaning chemicals, the elimination of Styrofoam to-go containers and low-flow plumbing.

Go to Kimpton Restaurants.

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