what to eat now: Leon

Naturally Fast Food brand LEON is the first fast food brand to serve a carbon-neutral burger and fries range in its restaurants.

Launching as part of a new menu, the carbon neutral items will make it easier for guests to learn more about the environmental impact of their food choices and choose options which lower their own personal carbon footprint, as LEON continues with its commitment to offer food that tastes good, does you good, is affordable and is kind to the planet.

LEON is measuring, reducing and offsetting the carbon footprint of their burgers and fries, with support from solution provider ClimatePartner1. This is done by measuring the CO2 emissions from the whole supply chain which includes all LEON’s ingredients, any packaging used and its waste, as well as emissions from prep in their restaurant kitchens. LEON uses 100% green electricity (no gas) in its kitchens supplied by Ecotricity.

The carbon neutral dishes include the new Crispy Chicken Parm and Vegan Sweet Carolina BBQ burgers, as well as the new recipe LOVe Burger, Fish Finger Burger and Chargrilled Chicken Burgers, and their baked waffle fries. LEON’s popular LOVe burger is now made with a new recipe pea protein patty from plant based producer Meatless Farm3, which has also helped the menu item have a lower impact.

The carbon footprint of these menu items will be offset with rainforest conservation projects in South America, as well as a progressive new afforestation project in the UK.

The launch is an important step for the business as it aims to reach net zero by 2030, by reporting on and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and furthering work to support biodiversity. This is aligned with the Council for Sustainable Business4 commitments which the brand signed up to in June 2020.

John Vincent, LEON CEO and co-founder is Chair of the Council for Sustainable Business, established by the UK government in 2018 bringing together business leaders to advise Defra ministers and policy teams. The council is focused on the need to take extraordinary actions to cut carbon emissions and restore nature and wildlife over the next 10 years, driving a ‘decade of difference’ for climate change and nature.

Morten Toft Bech, founder, Meatless Farm said: “Reducing your meat consumption is a simple step that anybody can take to help decrease your impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions and that is driving a huge demand for plant-based meat alternatives. Consumers want these options when they are eating out or on the go as well as at home, so it’s important to us that we help them make good choices for the environment without having to compromise on flavour”.

 “It’s a real privilege to be supporting such a values-driven brand on their sustainability journey, taking concrete climate action today. Enabling their customers to make more sustainable menu choices is very much a first step of a holistic sustainability strategy. For Leon to achieve Climate Neutrality for its most material menu items amidst a pandemic that has severely affected the restaurant industry sends a strong message that tackling climate change is everyone’s responsibility.” Emilien Hoet, Head of ClimatePartner UK

Further sustainable menu options include LEON’s triple-certified coffee, which saves 1metre squared of rainforest for every seven cups sold, due to its World Land Trust Certification. The Unlimited Coffee subscription offers guests as much coffee as they can drink for £15 a month, which if used to its fullest means a guest can help save 10 square metres of rainforest.

Most recently, LEON launched a Vegan Subscription Service5, £6 for a 30% discount for the month and vegan LOVe burger kits6 for home delivery, which are also carbon neutral, are further ways in which the brand is making it easier for people to eat more plants and be kinder to the planet.

Nemi teas are also a new addition to LEON’s menu, a truly responsible London brand with plastic free teabags and biodegradable packaging, their products are also triple certified as Organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest-Alliance.

The new menu is available in LEON restaurants nationwide now, with Smart Order available for contact-free click & collect via mobile, as well as digital kiosks, delivery and pick-up on Deliveroo and Uber Eats:

 

Crispy Chicken Parm burger £6.95

Sweet Carolina burger 6.45

Apricot & Vanilla Porridge 3.25

New tea offer: £2.00

  • Tea Pigs (Strong Earl Grey, Lemon & Ginger, Superfruit)
  • Nemi (Green, Mint, Spicy Chai)
  • Yorkshire (English Breakfast)

 

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