Engaged employees are – literally – worth their weight in gold. They provide your guests with an unforgettable experience and are willing to go the extra mile, for each other and for you. However, most employees could use a little extra encouragement in the area of sustainability and reducing food waste. And yet, this is an area where you can make a huge impact. On the world and on your wallet.

In this blog, you’ll discover how to motivate your employees to tackle food waste. We do this through 5 practical tips. Shall we?

1. No urgency, no action

Food waste in the hospitality industry is a big problem. Good food ends up in the trash by the millions of kilograms. This has major consequences, especially, for the environment. Besides wasting food, you’re also wasting the resources needed to produce a product. Not to mention your investment in purchasing, preparation, and labor disappearing into the trash. Let alone the message that excessive food waste sends to your guests, who hold sustainability in high regard.

Without urgency, there is no action. This also applies to this topic. Therefore, explain – based on the above – why reducing food waste is necessary. Want to support your story with numbers? Smart. You can find them here.

2. Share your progress

Getting your team motivated is one thing. Keeping that motivation is a whole different story. Therefore, regularly share about the progress. Tell, for example, how much food you all are saving per week, per month, and per year. Don’t forget to mention the positive consequences. Your team is really making a difference, and they should know it!

Orbi – our fully automated food waste monitor – can help you with this. It registers in half a second what you throw away, how much you throw away, and why. This opens up a world of interesting data that will undoubtedly encourage your employees to keep going.

3. Celebrate Successes

Reached a nice milestone? That needs to be celebrated! Get the confetti out and make it a real party. Including a drink and snack, of course. Recognition and appreciation strengthen the sense of achievement. ”Recognition and appreciation strengthen the sense of achievement, motivating your team to continue putting their best foot forward. It also contributes to a positive work environment. A win-win situation, if you ask us.

4. Leading by Example

Does a colleague have an extra green heart, standing head and shoulders above the rest in terms of commitment? Great. Make use of that. Name them, for example, as a food waste ambassador. Such ambassadors play a crucial role in driving new initiatives and inspiring their colleagues. See them as the bridge builders between your good – or green 😉 – intentions and the operation.

5. Encourage Creativity

Speaking of new initiatives… Encourage your team to come up with cool solutions or share their personal stories. This can range from creating a new dish made from leftovers to creative ways to make guests more aware of their own actions. All these ideas generate loads of positive energy. This way, you turn food waste from a challenge into a challenge!

Want to raise the stakes? Turn it into a friendly competition. And put something nice up for grabs. Let colleagues vote for the best idea and offer the winner a nice prize.

Got a Good Tip Yourself?

Inspire your fellow entrepreneurs and share it in a message to [email protected].
We collect the best tips in a future blog.