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Sustainability, a word so small but with an impact so large. Our increasing and inefficient use of our resources is leading to major S concerns, many of which are still left unaccounted for.

- RITIKA PAFFETT

Across industries, we are consuming and depleting resources on a scale larger than what we can afford. For maintaining a high quality of life and a healthy ecosystem, sustainable measures have to be implemented in every sector. Small steps taken timely will lead to bigger and better achievements.

Sustainable measures are two important keywords used across sectors. In order to sustain, there needs to be an effective control on wastage. While wastage can be divided into various verticals, the food industry in particular leads the chart. For the past two decades, the food and beverage industry has witnessed a healthy growth and is expected to grow further by an exponential percentage. Food trends, out-of-home dining culture, tourism growth are a few factors which are aiding the growth of the sector. The rapid growth has also brought other concerns into perspective. While the sector is booming, it is also producing tonnes of waste each year, impacting the entire cycle. The total cost of wastage that the industry accounts for is irreversible.

Minimising wastage along with its impact on the environment is what sustainability is all about. Many hotel chains and standalone restaurants have started adopting sustainable practices. The action plan focuses on a system of avoidance, reduction, reuse, recycling and disposal or treatment. While it may seem like a piece of cake, in actuality it is an arduous ordeal. The restaurant industry has great potential for saving however, inadequate estimation of diners and volume control are major contributors to derailing any kind of advancement towards wastage control. Wasted food means loss of revenue. High losses are a threat to jobs. It is a vicious cycle, interlinked with each other, yet if the right systems are implemented, the restaurant industry can be the flag bearers of the zero waste movement.