Honouring A&W Canada with the Environmental Stewardship Award at Restaurants Canada’s Awards of Excellence 2025

We are thrilled to share that we had the honour of presenting the Restaurants Canada Environmental Stewardship Award 2025 to A&W Canada. This recognition is especially meaningful to us, as we were honoured with the same award last year, making it even more rewarding to celebrate another sustainability leader in our industry.

The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes those who go beyond meeting standards, setting new benchmarks for sustainability and proving that business success and environmental care can go hand in hand.

This year’s recipient, A&W Canada, has become a true leader on this front. From championing the elimination of single-use plastics and advancing the Reusable Cup Program, to investing in sustainable beef and driving energy efficiency across their operations, A&W continues to push our industry toward a more sustainable future. Their work proves that meaningful change is possible at scale, and that environmental stewardship belongs at the heart of foodservice.

As past recipients, we understand the dedication it takes to bring sustainability to life in our industry. Celebrating A&W’s achievement reminds us that, together, we can create meaningful change and move toward a future where environmental stewardship is the standard.

Congratulations to A&W on this well-deserved recognition; and thank you to Restaurants Canada for continuing to spotlight the importance of sustainability in shaping the future of the foodservice industry.

To learn more about the Awards of Excellence visit RC official website: Awards of Excellence - Restaurants Canada

Kelly Blankstein, CFO, A&W Canada, and Henmary Acosta, Board President, LEAF Canada

How to prepare your business for the single-use plastics ban

The food and beverage industry is about to take a major step – several steps, perhaps – towards reducing waste and becoming more environmentally conscious as a ban on single-use plastics is set to take effect. 

After two years of being battered by a global pandemic, it might seem daunting to have to revamp your business strategy yet again, but this is one change that’s key to ensuring we do right by the planet. 

what’s being banned?

There are six items on the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) list being banned by the federal government.

These six items are:

• Plastic checkout bags

• Plastic cutlery

• Takeout containers made with hard-to-recycle plastics

• Plastic six-pack rings

• Stir sticks

• Straws (with some exceptions)

When will the ban take effect?

By December 20th 2022, the manufacturing and import of most of these items will be forbidden. Beyond that businesses will no longer be allowed to sell most of these items by December 2023. This gives businesses a roughly 18-month window to find and implement alternatives.

It should be noted items such as garbage bags, takeout beverage lids and coffee lids are not banned at this time, as the federal government felt there weren’t enough viable eco-friendly alternatives yet; however, it’s unclear whether these items will be targeted in the future.

There are a few exceptions to take note of as well. Plastic ring carriers and single-use plastic bendable/flexible straws have an additional six-month grace period, as their manufacture and import prohibitions come into effect June 2023, and sale prohibitions in June 2024. Plastic flexible straws will also remain available indefinitely for medical and/or accessibility purposes.

finding new suppliers

Don’t know where to start? One strategy is to break the transition down piece by piece. Begin with one item - straws, for example. Find an alternative supplier whose product offerings comply with the new regulations, and then introduce them to your business. Once that new supply chain is locked in, move onto the next item. Rinse and repeat. 

Hopefully, higher demand for plastic alternatives will spur yet more suppliers to enter the market, creating healthy competition and an increased variety of sustainable single-use (or even reusable!) alternatives for foodservice companies. 

To get you started on your plastic-free journey, check out our roster of LEAF-approved suppliers who carry everything from wooden cutlery to palm leaf dinnerware to bamboo straws. The list is pretty comprehensive and we encourage you to check them out!

If you’re still on the hunt for the right replacement suppliers, you can also explore what other businesses are using. Scope out and attend networking events such as trade shows (like the Restaurants Canada Show from April 10 - 12th 2023!), workshops, webinars, and other learning opportunities on sustainability. The next time you’re at a restaurant or café, take note of which plastic-free alternatives they use. Gauge whether they might be suitable for your own customers, and get recommendations from fellow foodservice operators. 

THE COST HURDLE

Another major hurdle with making the switch to plastic free is, of course, costs. 

One way to bring costs down is by implementing a “BYO” program to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags and/or containers for takeout. You could also add an “opt-in” option on online ordering apps to ask customers whether they need single-use cutlery (make sure to ask customers that call in orders as well!). If applicable, you could also consider partnering with local businesses, like Suppli, Muuse, CASE, DreamZero, and Cupko to implement reusable mug or takeout container programs. 

Start Now

We recommend developing your strategy early and not waiting until the last minute, when finding and switching to new suppliers and supplies on a time-crunch can get stressful. The government has given us 18 months to transition and find the best alternatives for your business - let’s take advantage of that time!

There are many ways to transition to plastic-free alternatives, and no right way - just a way that’s right for you. Regardless of how you might feel about the mandate to switch to earth-friendly alternatives, LEAF is here as a resource for your business, to help you make the plastic-free transition with ease.

Additional resources:

Official news release by Environment and Climate Change Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2022/06/government-of-canada-delivers-on-commitment-to-ban-harmful-single-use-plastics.html

CBC News on the SUPPR: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/single-use-plastics-explained-1.6498061 

Overview of SUPPR: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste/single-use-plastic-overview.html

LEAF at the RC Show: In photos!

And that’s a wrap!

Another Restaurants Canada show is in the books and what a whirlwind of an event! From the food to the informative panel discussions to the official launch of Restogreen, we had a great time and we hope you did too!

 Here are some memorable moments captured from the RC show:

Photo creds: Vicky Huang and Bianca Di Donato

LEAF Executive Director Anna Pham moderating the Tech Innovation in Food Waste panel with Too Good To Go’s Sam Kashani, Trendi’s Craig McIntosh and Restogreen’s Andre Mondor

Keynote speaker Douglas McMaster at the A New Level of Sustainability with Douglas McMaster

Behind the scenes with Education & Environmental Resource Coordinator Vicky Huang

LEAF’s Board President Tricia Ryan and Executive Director Anna Pham hosting the Eco System Workshop with ReThink Resource’s Shane Harker, City of Toronto Policy and Planning Manager Michael Skaljin and Silo Founder Douglas McMaster

Exploring the tastes of the RC Show!

Some of the LEAF team (& friends)! From the left, a Restogreen volunteer, BizBiz Share Chief Technology Officer Pierre-Olivier Campagna, Contributing Writer Lindsay Butti, Education & Environmental Resource Coordinator Vicky Huang, Executive Director Anna Pham and Restogreen Vice President Andre Mondor

LEAF Executive Director Anna Pham

LEAF at the RC Show & Restogreen official launch

The countdown is on! The long-awaited Restaurants Canada Show is happening May 9 - 11, 2022 at the Enercare Center in Toronto (and virtually)!

LEAF Canada is excited to not only host a booth at the show (swing by and say hello!), but our own Executive Director Anna Pham and Board President Tricia Ryan will be moderating two panels! 

Catch Anna hosting the Tech Innovation in Food Waste panel at the Culinary Stage on Monday at 4:15pm ET. She’ll be hosting a discussion on how technology firms are developing new ways the foodservice industry can reduce food waste with senior leaders from Trendi, Restogreen and Too Good to Go.

And on Wednesday at 11:45am ET, Tricia will be doing a deep dive into the systemic reforms that need to take place to drive sustainability in food service during the Eco System Workshop at StudioEx. She'll be joined by leaders from ReThink Resource, Restogreen, a City of Toronto policy and planning official and the founder of U.K.-based zero waste restaurant Silo. 

Tricia and Anna will also be introducing the keynote speaker at the A New Level of Sustainability with Douglas McMaster event on Tuesday at 11:30am ET. 

File these sustainability-focused panels under the “don’t miss” category - and check out the full event schedule here!
 

Tech Innovation in Food Waste
Monday May 9th, 4:15pm-5:00pm
Culinary Stage 

A New Level of Sustainability with Douglas McMaster
Tuesday May 10th, 11:30am-12:15pm
Speaker Stage

Eco System Workshop
Wednesday May 11th, 11:45am-12:30pm
StudioEx

Speaking of Restogreen – the online sustainability resource toolkit and marketplace for foodservice businesses will officially launch at the show. See how buying, selling and renting used equipment, furniture and inventory can help your business become more sustainable (and help give your bottom line a boost). Read more here.

Big changes are coming to the foodservice industry landscape. As we emerge from the pandemic, which moved much of service to delivery and takeout, the number of reasons for your business to become more sustainable is growing, including the federal government aiming to ban single-use plastics like straws and stir sticks.

Current research also shows Ontario landfills will be exhausted in the next 10 - 28 years and the province is looking to ban all organic waste from landfills. Canadians can expect to see the final regulations to ban single-use plastics sometime near the end of 2022 and a prohibition on organic waste in Ontario landfills soon after. This time before the legislation passes should be used to prepare your supply chain with more sustainable practices and packaging materials.

And support is available. Provincial legislation is slowly providing money for firms to build sustainable business models, add current technology, and install best practices across food-related industries.

Learn how LEAF applies the highest standards of environmental responsibility for food service firms through its certification program, which is audited by an independent third-party. The LEAF stamp is a sign of your dedication to the industry and your customers to eco-friendly business practices.

Complying with changing legislation and reducing your “fork-print” can be a tall order for the food service sector to fill, so we hope you can use this opportunity to explore viable solutions for your business with the information that will be shared at the RC Show.