Our Environment

We are measuring and mitigating the impact of our business activities on the environment, from greenhouse gas emissions to energy consumption, waste, water use and packaging. By adopting sustainable practices, we are operating more efficiently and reducing our carbon footprint.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

We have completed a global assessment of our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint for operational emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) and report a 18.4 percent reduction in global emissions in 2023 compared to the 2019 baseline. All references to assessments and baseline inventory are Scopes 1 and 2 measurements.

The assessment was conducted by an independent consulting services and software company specializing in technical analysis and innovation for efficiency and renewable resources. The company has considerable experience in the development, reporting and verification of GHG emissions information for industrial, utility, municipal and corporate organizations.

The Bloomin’ Brands baseline was developed in accordance with the revised GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard as supplemented by the Corporate Value Chain Accounting and Reporting Standard. The procedures developed and executed during the development of the Bloomin’ Brands inventory for Reporting Years 2019 - 2023 satisfy ISO Standard 14064-1. The initial assessment determined that in 2019, the company used an average of approximately 306 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e) per restaurant.

Using the baseline from 2019, we aspire to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 total GHG emissions by approximately half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, the targets necessary to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C.

We recognize that actions to reduce emissions cannot be limited to our own operations; we must also take steps to address GHG emissions where they are most challenging, including within our supply chain. Through engagement with our suppliers and our extended supply chain (e.g., food processors and distributors, transportation, and logistics partners, etc.) we will work to reduce and mitigate the climate impact of our raw materials.

TOTAL GLOBAL SCOPE 1 & 2 GHG EMISSIONS INTENSITY

ghg-emissions

Energy Management

We continue to seek renewable energy sources in our drive toward energy independence and are developing a procurement program to help achieve this goal. We are members of the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance to improve our knowledge and help inform decisions related to our climate goals. Throughout our operations we are working to identify new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, from evaluating more efficient kitchen equipment to exploring emerging renewable energy solutions.

High-Efficiency Equipment

The use of more efficient, ENERGY STAR® certified equipment has led the charge in reducing energy consumption. Just a few of these innovations, which vary by site, include high-efficiency HVAC units with smart thermostats, on-demand tankless water heaters, energy recovery bar glass washers, and active energy management systems. Most restaurants have been retrofitted with LED lighting to improve efficiency and all new restaurants are specified with LED.

LEED Standards

We are incorporating many Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ (LEED) standards throughout our new restaurant building and construction practices, and as we remodel, we are retrofitting restaurants with the same standards.

Water Conservation

We are using a wide range of water-saving equipment including low-flow faucets, dishwasher spray nozzles, and pasta-cookers. In addition, we have new processes for washing floors and inspecting for leaks to reduce our consumption of water.

As we build new locations, we will continue to seek to use new, more efficient equipment to make sure we do our part to preserve water for future generations.

Recycling and Packaging

Recycling efforts in our restaurants help divert waste from landfills each year. Additional innovations ranging from cardboard recycling to cork recycling are being reviewed as we continually seek new ways to reduce our environmental impact.

We are seeking new and more sustainable packaging and supplies for use throughout our restaurants. As part of our ongoing efforts, we endeavor to use paper bags made from 100% recycled material, entrée containers are now reusable, and we encourage a reduction in straw usage. The impact of the pandemic necessitated some container substitutions; we are returning to customary packaging as supplies become available.

Excess Food

Numerous measures have been implemented in our restaurants to reduce the amount of excess food that is prepared, using demand forecasting and more efficient food preparation methods. These expanding efforts have reduced food waste by approximately 50% from 2015-2020.

When we do find ourselves with more food than we can serve, we engage our ongoing partnership with the Harvest Program network and other food assistance programs to feed those in need. Our restaurants have donated more than 14 million pounds of excess food in the last ten years.