SaladStop! bets on practical steps to reach net zero as sustainability loses its buzzword appeal

SaladStop!, a 27-year-old food and beverage chain, is focusing on practical steps to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, as sustainability becomes less of a buzzword amid changing consumer priorities. The company's CEO, Adrien Desbaillets, stated that sustainability was once more prominent, but now plays a less central role due to factors like inflation and household and business pressures.

SaladStop! has already achieved net-zero emissions in two of its Singapore outlets and aims to expand this across its stores in Singapore and Hong Kong. The company reduces the carbon footprint of its newer stores by 30 percent compared to older outlets through the use of recycled and upcycled materials, such as chairs made from recycled plastic and walls built from 57,000 recycled chopsticks.

Desbaillets emphasized that net-zero stores cost the same as conventional ones when considered as a whole, and that local sourcing, shorter supply chains, and customer involvement are also crucial in their sustainability efforts. To engage customers in their sustainability goals, SaladStop! launched its Bring Your Own Bowl initiative in 2024.

On the last Friday of each month, customers who do not bring their own bowls cannot receive takeaway meals. Instead, they can borrow a free reusable container, purchase a collapsible bowl for a free signature salad, or dine in. This initiative aims to incentivize customers to use reusable packaging, rather than simply charging them for disposable ones.

Desbaillets emphasized that customers ultimately hold the purchasing power and that the company's sustainability efforts extend beyond its stores to its menu, with about 88 percent of ingredients in SaladStop!'s salad bar being plant-based.