Great, important practices that make us an Ocean Friendly certified Restaurant

First of all we’d like to explain a bit of what it means to be an Ocean Friendly restaurant. The Ocean Friendly Restaurants program recognizes restaurants who are committed to making sustainable choices for our ocean so that when guests are visiting, they can dine with peace of mind.

One of the main problems is overall plastic. It is a problem even before it reaches the ocean because of all the contamination and waste it takes to produce it. This type of contamination impacts all marine ecosystems, wildlife and us humans as well since microplastics can transfer from plastic containers to our food, water and air.

Ok now that we know the problem, which is the solution?

Stopping plastic is the solution! And it’s the main practice Ocean Friendly restaurants do in general. This results in like-minded and committed establishments that are starting to make a change for our planet and influence their guests, their staff and more people to do the same within their lives.

What type of practices does an Ocean Friendly preach?

We’ll tell you all about it…

Let’s start with the 7 step mandatory criteria:

1. Only reusable foodware is used for onsite dining.* (meaning dinnerware, drinkware, silverware, and ramekins/containers.)

2. Paper straws are provided only upon request.** (Exceptions may be made for naturally occurring materials (e.g. hay, bamboo) and reusables (e.g. metal, glass), not including bio-based plastic. 

3. No expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam). 

4. No plastic bags are used for takeout or to-go orders. 

5. Single-use utensils, straws, condiments, and other accessory items are provided only upon request.

6. Beverages are not sold in plastic bottles.

7. Proper recycling practices are followed.

Now the optional criteria where at least 3 options have to be chosen from every restaurant that wants to become part of the Ocean Friendly circle. Chez Rosa has chosen to do more than the 3 required and practices all the ones in blue.

1. A discount can be offered for customers with a reusable item (e.g. cup, container, bag).

2. Vegetarian and vegan food options are offered on a regular basis.

3. All seafood is ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’ as defined by Seafood Watch, or no seafood is served.* (Locally sourced, sustainable seafood is preferred and should be prioritized when Seafood Watch recommendations do not apply).

4. Water conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented.** (Examples include installing low-flow faucets and toilets, offering drinking water upon request only, no hosing down outside to reduce urban runoff, proper disposal of FOG, and up-to-date septic or sewage to prevent wastewater pollution).

5. Energy efficiency efforts are in place.*** (Examples include switching to LED lighting, installing solar panels, using Energy Star certified appliances and/or other efforts to use less energy).

6. Concessions and pre-packaged food items are not sold in plastic packaging.

7. Composting efforts are in place for food waste.

8. Neither single-use plastic nor bio-based plastic containers are used for takeout or to-go orders, reusable containers are preferred.

It is an honor for us to belong to a responsible, environmental community

Up to date, there are 558 restaurants around the world who belong to the Ocean Friendly Certified Restaurants community so we are extremely proud to be one of them! We are also super proud to have been the very 1st Ocean Friendly Restaurant in the whole state of Maine and we love seeing how this has grown since then.

With these practices we are also very committed to you, our guests, and offer you the best in every sense of the word as well as making a positive impact through you hoping you can follow the same practices as us, or at least encourage you to start doing them.

We are strong believers that we can help the planet one restaurant at a time by following these habits. Imagine what would happen if every restaurant in your area was an Ocean Friendly certified one? We would be talking about BIG change, don’t you think?

Let’s try growing that number of restaurants, shall we?

If you know other restaurants or restaurant owners who might be interested in becoming part of a great, positive game changers community, please do not hesitate in sharing Ocean Friendly’s website so they can become one: https://www.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-restaurants