For the second year running, Sustainable Bar of the Year goes to Little Mercies, a well-deserved award for this Crouch End hotspot with their dedication to reducing their carbon footprint.
Owner Alan says ‘we have always worked towards elements of sustainability, either consciously or because they are the right thing to do’.
From small to big differences, it’s all considered by this bar. Easy changes such as replacing paper towels with cloths and towels, having digital menus, using eco-friendly cleaning products and even making their own hand soap to reduce shipping, packaging and most importantly, carbon emissions, has always been a part of this bar’s ethos.
Since winning the accolade for the first time in 2022, the bar has made more changes creating an even greater impact on their carbon emissions. The venue now buys neutral grain spirits to make their own gin and vodka which has eliminated the need for kegs and therefore less deliveries needed saving 1250 glass bottles from the supply chain, over a tonne of glass itself, and has saved over 4 tonnes of CO2. A further 100kg of glass has been saved by Little Mercies by switching to local eco-conscious vermouth suppliers.
Buying local produce in their seasonal peaks and preserving them in a variety of ways allows them to use great flavours throughout the year as well reducing the environmental impact shipping fruits has on the world.
Seemingly insignificant changes have had huge impacts such as switching to LED rechargeable candles, keeping all internal paperwork elements of the bar online including menus and stock checks, using recycled or recyclable products for shipping their cocktails, and using almost exclusively second class produce in their drinks to save on food waste.
There are so many more aspects the bar focuses on as well as looking to make bigger changes for the future, a winner worthy of the recognition this award gives.
Alan clearly has a passion for making a change and this is reflected in the bar’s efforts to do better.
