Uncommon Ground Reclaims 'World's Greenest Restaurant' Title
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jan 7, 2013 10:05PM
Uncommon Ground has long been recognized for its commitment to sustainable practices, including a 2011 nod as the “greenest restaurant in America” as voted by the Green Restaurant Association.
The Green Restaurant Association once again bestowed the title of “world’s greenest restaurant” to Uncommon Ground, based on the association’s own standards. Uncommon Ground has earned 447 GreenPoints™ and has worked to improve its sustainability.
The programs and practices Uncommon Ground has implemented include:
- Full-scale recycling and composting programs to divert 95 percent of its waste from landfills.
- Updating 100 percent of its lighting to more sustainable LED, CFL and T8 Lamps, using high-efficiency equipment, producing renewable energy onsite, and more.
- Sourcing sustainable food: 71 percent of their food purchases are vegan or vegetarian, and 24 percent come from within 300 miles - including the restaurant’s own certified organic sidewalk and rooftop farms.
Despite all that, Uncommon Ground still manages to operate two restaurants free of pretension with amazing food.
In a press release from the GRA touting the recognition, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said:
”Uncommon Ground is a great example of what our city can do and what our country can do, use water and energy more efficiently, grow more sustainable food, while boasting the world’s most sustainable businesses.
Uncommon Ground will celebrate their status as the greenest restaurant in the world with a reception 6-8 p.m. Jan. 17 at their Clark Street restaurant. (3800 N. Clark St.)