highlevel diner

This restaurant in Canada tells you the carbon footprint of each menu item

Canadian restaurant Highlevel Diner is creating a unique dining experience: customers can now see the carbon footprint of the meal they're eating.

The Edmonton brunch place has teamed up with a local non-profit organization — Northern Climate Stewardship & Sustainability — to create the environmentally-friendly menu.

Each carbon footprint was calculated by how the food was produced, transported, and then cooked at the restaurant.

highlevel diner

Courtesy of Debbie Parker

The menus launched earlier this week.

Unsurprisingly, burgers and meat pies — which typically have a larger carbon footprint than plants, fruits and vegetables — are the biggest offenders.

The Spinach Pie, for example, has a carbon footprint of 0.88 CO2e, while the Guinness Cottage Pie clocks in at 4.62 CO2e — more than four times the amount of carbon emissions.

highlevel diner

Courtesy of NCSSS

The NCSSS says that their goal is to "encourage Highlevel Diner restaurant patrons to make low carbon food choices and reduce their carbon footprints."

After a period of time, the organization will review diners' orders in the hope that patrons of Highlevel Diner begin to choose more sustainable meals.

The Canadian diner has shown a long-term interest in sustainability, having banned plastic straws in April 2018.

Lead photo by

Polyanna Gorius


Latest Videos



Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Food

Canada's most famous Newfoundland store has closed and been replaced

Restaurant in Canada fined almost $1K for illegal patio tent

Restaurants are boycotting Nova Scotia lobster in support of Indigenous fishers

Nightclub in Canada agrees to close after video shows packed dance floor

Canada's most famous taco restaurant permanently closes

This restaurant in Canada might have the first perogy drive-thru in the world

Ontario restaurant threatened by lawsuit by man not wearing mask

Workers form a human chain at No Frills to strike over low wages