Charlotte’s Green Crown Program recognizes food businesses using sustainable practices. The program cooled down during the COVID pandemic, as businesses focused on public health and relied heavily on single-use take-out containers and utensils. Now, the program is being revamped with new applications for catering and hospitality businesses, helping eco-conscious customers find places that reflect their values.
Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience Director Robyn Byers said sustainable practices like purchasing and using energy-efficient appliances are also a way to help the bottom line.
"Restaurants that actually implement energy efficiency upgrades, the research shows that on average they can reduce their utility bills by about 10 to 30% a month,” Byers said.
