The #NetZero Way of Doing Business

A brand well-known among locals, SaladStop!’s sustainability journey goes way back to its founding years.

Ever been to a restaurant or cafe to “dabao” food but forgot to bring your own takeaway container? You could borrow one when you “dabao” at SaladStop!’s first net zero outlet at CapitaSpring. You will even be rewarded with a free salad topping if you bring your own reusable containers!

Customers can easily borrow reusable food containers and bottles before they order their takeaway meals, reducing the need for single-use packaging.

Working With Green Partners on This Journey

Green solutions and products are often perceived as less profitable, and remain one of the reasons corporates put off adopting more sustainable business models. But with SaladStop!’s very first net zero outlet in the heart of Singapore’s CBD, they are showing how doing business with a green mentality is the way forward.

Firstly, SaladStop! worked with Unravel Carbon, a local start-up that supports tracking and reduction of carbon emissions, to understand their carbon emissions and develop green solutions that are accurate and verifiable.

The CapitaSpring outlet was designed with sustainability and green habits in mind, with many of the building materials and furnishings made from recycled materials such as felled wood.

Pomeroy Studio, a design studio focusing on a sustainable built environment, was then roped in to design and construct the store to meet net zero guidelines.

To furnish the store, upcycling companies such as MiniWiz and Roger & Sons provided upcycled tiles and furniture made from trees that were felled for urban redevelopment.

Sustainability plays a huge role in day-to-day operations too. For example, local produce is used where possible, leftover food waste is composted and then used at CapitaSpring’s rooftop garden. SaladStop! is also partnering Deliveroo to provide customers with carbon-neutral delivery services — only by bicycle or on foot.

Customers are important players in this net zero journey as well. Besides encouraging zero-waste takeaways using reusables, paperless ordering and billing is the de facto transaction mode here. When checking out, customers can also opt to pay for a carbon offset to support the company’s reforestation of a mangrove project in Indonesia. In return, SaladStop! will match their contributions 1:1.

SaladStop! has also committed to being a Green Nation Pledge champion, and judging by their current efforts, they are going above and beyond by embarking on an ambitious sustainable business model.

Customers can return the reusable containers they borrowed at the tray return counter the next day. This has proved popular with many regular customers who work in the area.

Cost trade-offs are only short term

According to the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SaladStop! Adrien Desbaillets, sustainability has always been a part of SaladStop!’s DNA. On setting up SaladStop!’s first net zero outlet at CapitaSpring, he said that while the capital expenditure was slightly higher than that of a conventional outlet, the operation costs were actually lower.

“Some cost savings are possible through energy-saving measures and building stores more efficiently but there is definitely an investment in some key customer touchpoints, especially when sourcing more sustainable ingredients.”

While there might be some trade-offs in revenue initially, Adrien believes that the sustainable way of doing business helps with customer loyalty and creates a clear competitive advantage.

He said: “We continue to see how our sustainability push resonates with customers and believe strongly that businesses will no longer have a choice moving forward.”

With more than 60 outlets across seven countries, SaladStop! has set its sights on becoming the first Asian F&B chain to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, across all new and existing outlets under their direct management and operational control.

Adrien also warned that customers are quick to catch on to greenwashing in businesses. His advice for other business owners looking to adopt more sustainable practices? Sincerity.

“The key is identifying what sustainability means to you as a business, getting the team to believe in it, and make it part of the company’s processes. In the early days, the sustainability message was more of a ‘nice to have’ but now, it is fundamental to our business and customer expectations.”

Situated at the heart of the central business district, this net zero outlet is also one of the F&B outlets that offer delivery by foot and bicycle, giving customers peace of mind about their takeout’s carbon footprint.

#NetZero #SGGreenPlan #GameChangeClimateChange

Make your pledge too at https://www.sg/opportunities/mse-green-nation-pledge