The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and Ted's Montana Grill announced April 23 that Ted’s Montana Grill has become the first in the restaurant sector to balance a portion of its water footprint through the investment in Water Restoration Certificates. The Ted’s commitment will restore 5 million gallons of water to the Colorado River Basin over two years and represents a landmark sustainability move in the industry that builds on the restaurant company’s rich history of innovation and leadership around sustainability. The Water Restoration Certificate program is the only environmental product that enables businesses to balance their water footprint and restore water to critically dewatered streams and rivers.
Through the purchase of WRCs, Ted’s Montana Grill will restore 2.5 million gallons of water to critically dewatered Colorado Basin tributaries for two consecutive years. This commitment effectively balances the annual water footprint of three Colorado restaurants for two years – Lakewood, Westminster, and Boulder. The company’s first-year commitment helped restore 2.5 million gallons to Colorado’s Yampa River, directly supporting the local recreation-based economy and the needs of fish and wildlife during severe drought.
“This investment in water restoration certificates expands our sustainability efforts beyond simply water conservation,” notes George McKerrow, co-founder/CEO for Ted’s Montana Grill. “It provides a mechanism for balancing our water footprint while also contributing to environmental restoration efforts in our own backyard.”
Founded in 2002, Ted’s has demonstrated a commitment to the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle. Energy-efficient and low-flow fixtures are installed in all 44 restaurant locations across 16 states. The reuse of cooking oil helps reduce air pollution, carbon emissions, and reliance on imported petroleum. Additionally, the company recycles more than 370 tons of plastic, glass, and aluminum each year. For more information visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com.
BEF delivers a full suite of innovative energy, carbon and water solutions that are helping to redefine corporate sustainability. By working with farmers, NGOs, private foundations and corporations, BEF enables its business partners to meaningfully balance their environmental impact, invest in clean energy and carbon reduction, educate the next generation of energy consumers, and restore the health of freshwater resources.
Launched in 2009, BEF’s Water Restoration Certificate Program aims to address diminishing fresh water supplies in the United States. Every certificate represents 1,000 gallons of water restored to critically dewatered streams and rivers. To-date, BEF has helped restore more than 7.6 billion gallons of water to western rivers.
“Their long-term commitment to sustainability and popularity with mainstream America makes Ted’s Montana Grill an ideal partner for BEF,” says Todd Reeve, CEO for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “With more than 4.6 million customers yearly, we hope there’s an opportunity to raise awareness with the general public about issues that are affecting our freshwater supply.”
