Ocean Friendly Restaurant - Bondi Harvest
What is an Ocean Friendly Restaurant?
An Ocean Friendly Restaurant (OFR) is an establishment committed to reduce their footprint through various efforts. From minimizing their waste, to water/energy use reduction, to offering vegetarian options, these restaurants and their teams are integrating sustainability into everything they do, and inviting their guests into the conversation. So, what’s it take?
OFR’s must follow the first five criteria:
No expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam).
Proper recycling practices are followed.
Only reusable foodware is used for onsite dining.*
No plastic bags offered with take out or to-go orders and utensils are provided only upon request.
Paper straws are provided only upon request.**
* Foodware includes dinnerware, drinkware, silverware, and ramekins/containers.
** Exceptions may be made for alternatives made from other naturally occurring materials and reusables.
And choose a minimum of two of these criteria:
No beverages are sold in plastic bottles.
A discount is offered for customers with reusable cup, container, bag, etc.
Vegetarian/vegan food options are offered on a regular basis.
All seafood is ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’ as defined by Seafood Watch, or certified as sustainable.
Water conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented.
Energy efficiency efforts are in place.
My favorite, local OFR is Bondi Harvest, an aussie-owned cafe unpredictably tucked in the creative industry area of Santa Monica. I love this spot because it’s walking distance from my home + work, and the staff has become like family. They have the tastiest items on their menu (I lean towards the “formerly known bowl” and an iced americano with the good mylk) and the outdoor communal shared-table layout is the perfect atmosphere.
Bondi is a stellar OFR, because they are leading the pack with sustainable alternatives. In Santa Monica, we have a plastic ordinance that bans restaurants from providing any/all single-use plastic items, and Bondi has adapted quickly. From offering cute reusable water cups, to big cozy mugs for their lattes, to all biodegradable packaging for their to-go orders, their commitment to minimizing their fooprint is obvious, and becomes contagious to all who dine there. I just noticed the other day that they now offer biodegradable paper lids for their to-go coffee cups… yew!
My friends and I had a little photoshoot with them, check it out!
