According to the reports, Great cuisine is at the top of the list for diners but restaurateurs increasingly are turning attention to "greening" their products as well.

It has been reported that from relying more heavily on locally produced ingredients to using more eco-friendly place settings, the $580 billion food service industry is looking to cut costs as it cuts waste.

Enter Green Seal, which "provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace." Green Seal certification appears on a variety of products from coffee filters to air chillers and offers the first nationally recognized standards for green restaurants.

Cheryl Baldwin of Green Seal said, "Our life-cycle analysis showed that agricultural production as well as distribution, storage, preparation and disposal of food represent the vast majority of the impact of an operation. To truly make a difference you have to reduce these impacts."

Baldwin further said that certification requires a site audit and regular monitoring. Following the Green Seal guidelines can reduce a restaurant's overall environmental impact by an average of 75 percent.

The inspection covers everything from kitchen practices to the fixtures in restrooms. Baldwin said stopping leaks and installing sinks and toilets that use sensing technology can reduce water usage significantly. (With inputs from Agencies)