The Longtable Project joined 110% Green as the initiative's 110th Flagship. They are a social enterprise that gives support to restaurants in Cape Town and the Winelands who would like to become more sustainable with regard to their use of food, resources, labour and communications.
When they joined in March 2014 they committed to:
Recruiting the full quota of 24 founder members by mid 2014. Sharing the progress of the project at a sustainable development conference in June 2014 (isdrc.com). Supporting the founder members through communication across at least four channels (blog, twitter, facebook, instagram). Helping each member set three sustainable goals. Co-hosting at least 10 events for 2014 to push the cause and encourage collaboration.
The organisation has done very well in meeting their commitment statement. Longtable now has 18 restaurarnt and supplier members including Dear Me, Societi, Starlings Cafe, The Vineyard Hotel, Shoreline Cafe, Table at De meye, Frankie Fenner, Overture, Delaire, Oak Valley, Fresh at Paul Cluver, The foodbarn and Deli, Farmer Angus, El Burro, Wild Peacock, Haute Cabriere, Waterkloof, and Crush. These members have been handpicked for their commitment to being more sustainable. In 2015 Longtable Project will work with 20 founder members to consolidate our efforts.
Longtable Project also had the opportunity to present a paper on ustainability and the restaurant system in Cape Town at the International Sustainable Development Research Society conference in Norway. During the year they also co-hosted 7 events for their members and interested parties as information sharing and networking opportunities. The work being done by their members were publicised via their website and social media. These platforms were also very of the 110% Green Food Forward project.
Longtable Project has now expanded its strategy for 2015 which includes:
- "A Better Menu" - working sessions we will conduct with founder members for no charge. The workshop will help identify shifts that can be made to make menus better for the environment, people and communicate effectively to consumers. The Vineyard has generously offered to host three of these.
- The "Better Menu Story" will help members to identify the sustainable achievements you would most like to communicate to customers. This will be converted into a Longtable Project infographic to use by founder members as communications to take the message to consumers.
- "Working Together" to help support Longtable Project and its members through collaborations or events that support one another and open up new opportunities. Member events have been a highlight of the Project.
- Continue to support our members and the industry through our website, twitter, facebook, instagram and pinterest.
We look forward to the further fantastic achievements of Longtable!