KFC opens green outlet

The restaurant that fast-food chain KFC opened recently in Chennai is the first of the 20, sustainable and green outlets it is planning this year, said the company.

KFC India has unveiled an initiative ‘KFConscious’ under which it aims to set up ‘sustainable restaurants’ by tapping energy efficiency and the use of environmentally friendly materials.

“A first for the Quick Service Restaurant industry in the country, the restaurant is located at Thiyagarayanagar (T Nagar) in Chennai,” marking the brand’s commitment to growing sustainably, a company statement said.

“The efforts with KFConscious initiative align with KFC’s global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030. This is in addition to a sustainability commitment of all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging to be recoverable or reusable by 2025,” it said.

The restaurant design and operations integrate with energy efficiency, usage of environment-friendly materials, and waste diversion. Another KFC outlet in the Yamunanagar Expressway food court is marked by energy efficiency, the company said.

The brand is striving to enable consumers to enjoy their favourite KFC dishes in a much more responsible manner, the company said.

According to Samir Menon, Managing Director, KFC India: “We are passionate about feeding a future with more purpose, and are committed to creating a better future for our customers, communities, and the environment. The initiative KFConscious has provided an impetus to our efforts in driving meaningful change and pioneering sustainable development in the restaurant industry.” “…we are honoured at the opportunity to help advance the conversation on sustainability and are proud to be able to shape the path ahead,” he said.

The solar panels at the restaurant in Chennai would help save about 18,000 units of power every year while 100 percent of the water collected from RO system is utilised for flushing in the washrooms, said company officials.

The usage of natural and LED lighting ensures energy efficiency while energy management system in the kitchen ensures optimised use of electricity.

The company has also installed eco-friendly materials such as local clay tiles for wall finishes.