atiyah: zero-carbon kitchen hits big goal

23rd June 2021 | Eativity editors

Melbourne’s food community has saved more than 10,000kg in carbon emissions by eating authentic Lebanese cuisine at Australia’s first zero-carbon street food kitchen, atiyah.

Despite opening during a global pandemic and enduring several snap lockdowns, the Melbourne community has rallied behind the pioneering eco-smart off-grid kitchen at Federation Square, helping the team reach the pivotal milestone.

“We’re so proud to see our customers hit the 10,000kg target,” says atiyah co-founder Ben Armstrong, who’s showing the city a greener, more sustainable approach to hospitality. “It’s a milestone that hasn’t been accomplished anywhere else in Australia.”

The team quantified the greenhouse gas emissions of every meal and drink consumed at atiyah using an industry best practice life-cycle assessment. By doing so, they’re able to show customers the emissions they’ve saved with every bite. Armstrong now hopes that more businesses can adopt this type of practice.

atiyah: Australia's first zero-carbon street food kitchen
The atiyah team is proud to show that you don’t need emissions to run a kitchen.

atiyah fast facts:

1. Diners have saved 10,000kg of carbon emissions since November 2020.

2. Across the entire business, atiyah has saved more than 500 tonnes in carbon emissions.

3. 14312 litres of rainwater have been harvested.

4. atiyah has offset 4862kWh with renewable energy.

5. The kitchen has diverted 1860kg of waste.

atiyah: Australia's first zero-carbon street food kitchen
atiyah serves traditional recipes based on manakish, a flatbread with locally-sourced toppings and fresh dips.

Expanding the ethos

atiyah is the first hospitality business and start-up in Australia to be certified as carbon neutral by Climate Active – a partnership between the Australian government and Australian businesses to encourage voluntary climate action. The business has now also launched Australia’s very first zero-carbon catering service.

The new service will be available for both private and public functions across Melbourne and the outer suburbs. It will save carbon emissions, offset plastic waste with recycling initiatives and remove organic waste, one event at a time.

“We’re revolutionising street food through our community of people with a passion for saving the planet,” Armstrong says. “We’re so excited to extend our services to continue to show a more sustainable and eco-friendly way of working in the hospitality sector.”

For more information on atiyah and zero-carbon catering, click here.