Pietro Gianni and Stephen Peterson — co-owners of popular Italian restaurants Storico Fresco, Storico Vino, Forza Storico, and soon-to-open YEPPA&co Bar e Ristorante — have spent the past three years committing to eco-conscious practices at their establishments and the use of sustainable aluminum solutions in the hopes that their diners will demand the same from other restaurant groups.
“At the start of the pandemic, we were confronted with something unprecedented and had to figure out how to cut costs without cutting quality,” says Gianni. “We discovered that many of the financially beneficial solutions came from sustainability.”
By making small changes since 2020 and rethinking how they serve their guests, Gianni and his team were able to make a huge impact on both their bottom line and their carbon footprint. Swapping out paper towels for hand dryers in the bathrooms saved the company $35,000 per year, just as an example. Installing smart thermostats that are programmable through the owners’ cell phones led to 30% savings on utility bills. Replacing incandescent lights with LED bulbs also contributed to their energy efficiency. Switching to plant-based to-go containers and cutlery cut costs in half while also reducing the restaurant’s amount of landfill waste. Ordering food products in exact quantities to reduce trimming to almost zero and finding purposes for any trimmings, has led to greater efficiency. Prepping correctly and using technology to predict the volume of food orders greatly reduces waste, as food waste on the prep side accounts for more greenhouse gasses than automobiles.
To reduce the amount of glass (thousands of bottles per week thanks to the wines, spritzes, and bottled water served) used in his restaurants, Gianni began researching aluminum and was surprised to discover how much less labor these eco-friendly alternatives required. He installed still and sparkling water filtration systems at each restaurant and only…
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