Consumers are looking for eco-friendly dining options. To help, Yelp has added searchable eco-friendly business attributes to the site.
According to Yelp, searches for “plant based” have increased an average of 56% each year from 2018 to 2021, and searches for “EV charging” have increased an average of 41% each year, showing the demand for eco-friendly dining options. For the initiative, Yelp has partnered with the Plastic Pollution Coalition. Users can now search for attributes like “Plastic-free packaging,” “Provides reusable tableware,” “Bring your own container allowed” and “Compostable containers available.” In addition to these new eco-friendly attributes, existing relevant attributes, such as “Bike parking” and “Vegan,” will also be searchable and highlighted in Yelp search results and business pages.
“The new Yelp sustainability attributes will allow people to more easily find eateries, bars, and cafes that are plastic free and support our values of thriving communities and a healthy, livable planet,” said Dianna Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Plastic Pollution Coalition. “We’re grateful Yelp is using its platform in this way, and we’re excited the new attributes will help more sustainable businesses stand out for their green practices.”
Yelp users can find the eco-friendly attributes on business pages listed under the “Amenities and more” section on Yelp.com or the “Info” section in the iOS or Android app, as well as highlighted on business listings in applicable search results.
Business owners can add these attributes to their Yelp page for free by logging into their Yelp for Business account and editing their “Business Information” section.
The company is also surveying consumers to inform these attributes through the “Update the community” questions on Yelp business pages.
Practices such as reducing plastic waste and eliminating single-use utensils can sometimes require a small investment upfront, but these concerted efforts can save businesses money long term from avoided procurement and reduced waste fees, according to Yelp. Additionally, these efforts have a major impact on communities and the environment, meet consumer demand and encourage other businesses to reflect on their own sustainable practices.
