Take a look inside Chipotle's new-look all-electric restaurants, with solar panels, EV charging, and seats made from cactus leather

Thu, 04/13/2023 - 09:50

Chipotle's new look restaurants. Rending shows the exterior — Chipotle's new look restaurants.
Chipotle

Chipotle has unveiled a new restaurant design that focuses on sustainability.
The restaurants will be all-electric and serve food with biodegradable cutlery and cups.
Some locsions will have rooftop solar panels and spots for customers to charge their EVs.

Burrito-chain Chipotle has unveiled a new design for its restaurants that focuses on sustainability.

The restaurants are all electric and fully powered by renewable energy from wind and solar power, which is done by buying renewable energy credits, the company says.

Some locations will have their own rooftop solar panels.

And customers will be able to charge their EVs outside.

Diners will sit on chairs made from cactus leather and will eat using cutlery, cups, and straws made from biodegradable materials.

Chipotle's new look restaurants. Rending shows the dining room — Chipotle

The company said that in 2022 all of its bowls, quesadilla trays, and kids' meal trays were made with fully-compostable plant-based fiber.

Chipotle said that its sustainability plans also include adding more vegetarian and vegan items to its menu.

Someone dolloping guacamole on a Chipotle bowl. — TikTok is divided over the platform's latest Chipotle hack.
Joe Raedle

The company started selling plant-based chorizo in the US last year, using a recipe it crafted itself rather than working with an outside company.

Chipotle is aiming to reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, using 2019 as its baseline.

The company announced in 2021 that it would start basing 10% of its executives' annual incentives on meeting diversity and environmental goals.

Chipotle has already opened restaurants in the new format in Gloucester, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida, with a third location opening later this summer in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Chipotle says it plans to develop this restaurant design and respond to feedback.

Some retailers and fast-food chains have been overhauling their stores to integrate sustainable features.

McDonald's opened its first "net-zero" restaurant in the US in 2020, which is solar-powered and has a "living wall" that naturally cools the building. The chain said it would use the restaurant to test solutions for reducing energy and water use.

Chipotle isn't using this design for all of its new restaurant openings. However, it said that more than 100 of its new restaurants opening in 2024 will have all-electric equipment. Some will also incorporate other elements of the sustainable design.

Chipotle's new look restaurants. Rending shows the seating area — Chipotle

Chipotle opened more than 200 restaurants in both 2021 and 2022.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Take a look inside Chipotle's new-look all-electric restaurants, with solar pan…