Subway Adds Five Eco-Restaurants

The Subway restaurant chain (Milford, Conn.) added five new green Subway Eco-Restaurants to its portfolio, with plans calling for more locations. The stores include environmentally friendly aspects to reduce energy, water, and waste consumption in cost effective ways.

“All of these new eco-restaurants reflect the brand's commitment to social responsibility and sustainability,” says Elizabeth Stewart, marketing director, who heads the brand's corporate social responsibility efforts. “We have made a commitment to make our restaurants and operations more environmentally responsible.”

Franchisee Burhan Ghanayem, a retired environmental health scientist, opened two Eco-Restaurants in Cary and Durham, N.C., with his brother Marwan. Both restaurants are recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council with LEED certification.

Subway says it encourages franchisees to create Eco-Restaurants when possible. Many who cannot rebuild their restaurants are incorporating green elements into their stores, including low flow faucets and toilets, energy saving appliances, motion sensor lights, recyclable trash cans, and more.

Another Eco-Restaurant opened in Kokomo, Ind., and two newly renovated rest areas off the Merritt Parkway in North Haven, Conn., include the green design initiatives.