Going Paperless
January 26, 2023
Going paperless for restaurants, parlors, and other food service businesses is a great way to reduce waste and improve efficiency. One of the main ways to do this is by switching to a digital menu.
Worldwide consumption of paper has risen by 400% in the past 40 years. The pulp and paper industry is the fifth largest consumer of energy, accounting for four percent of all the world’s energy use.
Recycling paper saves energy and reduces pollution caused by the bleaching of the wood pulp (to remove the ink on the paper being recycled). However, even though virgin paper requires 24,000 gallons of water per ton to create, recycled paper still requires 12,000 gallons of water per ton.
In fact, a news reports that an average restaurant menu can have up to 185,000 bacteria swimming around on its surface — which beats out the bacteria on a restroom toilet seat 100 times over. And that’s not even the worst part. WebMD states that menus at restaurants have been known to have traces of E. coli and S. aureus, otherwise known as staph, lingering on their plastic.
Hence it makes sense to go digital instead of a hard copy.
Here are a few tips for implementing a digital menu in your business:
1. Invest in tablets: Purchase tablets for your customers to view your menu on. This can be more cost-effective than printing new menus every time you update your menu.
2. Use QR codes: You can place QR codes on tables or on printed menus that customers can scan with their smartphones to access your digital menu.
3. Create a mobile app: Create a mobile app for your restaurant that customers can download to access your menu, place orders, and pay digitally.
4. Utilize Social media platforms: Make use of the social media platforms to showcase your menu and digital ordering options.
5. Train your staff: Make sure your staff is trained on how to use the new digital menu system and assist customers who may have questions.
By switching to a digital menu, you can reduce your printing costs and make it easier for customers to view your menu and place orders. You can also update your menu in real-time, making it easier to make changes and promote specials. Additionally, it will be helpful for the environment as it reduces paper waste.