Smooth Operator: Spotlight on Bloom Plant Based Kitchen

Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, a 100% plant-based and gluten-free restaurant in Chicago, made a big move in 2022. Bloom, owned and operated by Chef Rodolfo Cuadros, installed a biodigester as part of its mission to reduce its carbon footprint, making it one of the only independent groups in Chicago to have such a system, according to the brand. Here’s what they had to say about this change and its impact:

How it works: The biodigester turns any food waste into an environmentally safe liquid that goes down the drain and is disposed of using the existing sanitary sewer infrastructures of Chicago.

Bloom aims to incorporate eco-friendly solutions into its dining experiences.

The results: Since installing the biodigester in July 2022, Bloom has prevented 7,000 pounds of food from being transferred to landfills.

What’s next: Bloom continues to explore options to be greener. The brand is currently laying the groundwork for installing a microturbine, which would allow it to create its own electricity.

Smooth advice: “If this is something that you are very interested in doing, don’t hesitate. Right now, there are a whole bunch of tax breaks and credits available for making green improvements, so whatever you want to do might actually be more affordable than you think,” says Brett Lander, director of operations for Del Ama Hospitality’s Bloom and Amaru concepts.