GDAKC Core Concepts 

While there are many ways Kansas City restaurants can work toward sustainability, all GDAKC–certified restaurants begin by committing to four Core Concepts: 

• Ban the use of Styrofoam 
• Implement or work to phase in single-stream or separated recycling 
• Phase in energy-efficient lighting and efficient ballasts 
• Set waste reduction and diversion goals

Becoming certified requires these simple steps: 

1. Restaurant completes our commitment form, agrees to our Core Concepts, and becomes a pending member. 
2. Restaurant completes our self-audit assessment form. 
3. GDAKC schedules and completes an audit with the restaurant’s primary contact as well as others familiar with the operations of the business and its building. Together we conduct a thorough, onsite walk-through consultation and interview. The restaurant pays its certification fee at this time. 
4. GDAKC delivers the restaurant’s audit score and report, certifying the business as an active member and awarding it a star rating. 

The primary aim of GDAKC is to meet participants where they are. Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and not all businesses are green in the same way. Our audit is a friendly, interactive learning experience for business owners, chefs, management and staff.