For some, Earth Day may trigger images of barefoot hippies wearing flower crowns, hugging trees and twirling in meadows.

For me, it's my fifth-grade school play, "Gonna Have an Earth Day." I played a "valley girl" polluting the Earth with aerosol hairspray instead of landing the coveted role of "Recycle Girl." That part went to my bestie and brought back bitter memories of my third-grade rejection — when I wanted to be the ladybug but was cast as Ms. Beetle. ( I think it was actually just "a beetle," but I was so sad that my aunt made me a green velvet costume, added a lot of bling to my wings, and the beetle became a Ms. (That, however, is a story for another day but also a good reminder that a little bling can fix many of life's disappointments.)

Anyway, I'm obviously not over those rejections, but what I am here for now is the fast casual industry playing its part in Earth Day — AKA — April 22.

Whether it's creating menu items with lower-carbon footprints or making donations to save marine wildlife, a variety of restaurant execs are doing what they can to take on the role of Recycle Girl (or Boy.)

See below to check out a few LTOs and marketing campaigns inspired by saving the planet. I just wish you could hear what I do as you read them — the main song from my fifth-grade play — "Spread the good news; we're gonna have an Earth Day."

Ike's Love & Sandwiches
Just in time for Earth Day, Ike's Love & Sandwiches is releasing a limited-edition vegan sandwich called Earth Angel. Available for one week only starting Thursday, the sandwich costs $10 and ontains turkey, mushrooms, mozzarella and a cabbage slaw lathered in Ike's Dirty Sauce on Dutch Crunch bread.

The sandwich is the center of Ike's "Eat Vegan for the Earth Day" promotion in partnership with PETA. According to EcoWatch.com, each individual who commits to a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, nearly 40 pounds of grain, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide and 30 square feet of forested land each day.

"At Ike's, we love sandwiches, and we love our environment, Ike's CMO Renae Scott said in the release. "The best way to celebrate Earth Day is to try vegan, and we make it easy and irresistibly delicious.

Based in San Francisco, Ike's has over 70 locations.

Veggie Grill
Customers who sign up for Veggie Grill rewards Thursday through April 30 may unlock a special in-app BOGO offer for a free starter or share. Also, for Earth Day, loyalty guests may earn double points on all items, excluding gift cards, Family Meal Deal and alcohol, according to a company press release.

Veggie Grill is based in California.

Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen has added a Low Carbon Menu Collection available via the Los Angeles-based brand's mobile app. Building upon its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2027, the Low Carbon Collection highlights the menu items that emit the lowest amount of carbon, according to a company press release. They include Crispy Rice Bowl, Shroomami, Super Green Goddess and Guacamole Greens.

The 105-unit chain is also partnering with Junes, a female-owned company that makes tote bags from recycled materials, to create a limited-edition bag that select customers will receive on Earth Day when they order for pickup from the Low Carbon Collection.

Fields Good Chicken
Fields Good Chicken, a chicken roastery with six locations in Manhattan, has created Zero-Waste Tacos and Roasted Cauliflower, and is giving customers

Fields Good Chicken has created Zero-Waste Tacos and Roasted Cauliflower.

50% off the tacos ($2.25/taco OR $6 for an order of 3) from Thursday to Sunday.

The tacos are carbon neutral and are made with Pulled Achiote Rad Bird (made with leftover OG Rad Bird meat), and served on corn tortillas with house-made guacamole, cotija cheese, onions and cilantro.

Committed to sustainability and making a positive impact, the chain is a member of 1% for the Planet, supporting Scenic Hudson, and its locations are 100% wind powered, according to the release.

BurgerFi

Besides being one of the first fast casual restaurants to add "Beyond Meat" to its menu, Florida-based BurgerFi has several eco-friendly interior design components, including its upcycled Coca Cola chairs crafted from 111 plastic bottles.

Other sustainability elements in the design include the community tables, made from recycled, compressed wood pallet, high-volume, low-speed fans that deliver the output of nine fans using the energy of three and Edison lightbulbs, which contribute the least amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of all lighting sources.

Red Rooster Harlem
James Beard Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson is serving rescued produce on his menu at Red Rooster Harlem during Earth Week (April 19-24) and is inviting other restaurants to join him.

Chef Marcus Samuelsson is serving rescued produce at his restaurants and is inviting other brands to do the same.

Rescued produce is "perfectly good food that would have otherwise gone to waste and contributed to climate change," according to Samuelsson, who is doing his part to reduce food waste by partnering with Two Good Yogurt, which is owned by Danone North America and uses verified rescued produce in its yogurt.

Using rescued lemon, cauliflower and onion, the celebrity chef will serve a Miso Glazed Salmon with Brown Butter Yogurt, Farro & Cauliflower in his restaurant but is making the recipe available for other brands wanting to offer the entree.

Brands interested in using rescued produce may email wastelessfeedmore@twogoodyogurt.com to sign up.

Marugame Udon
Marugame Udon is celebrating Earth Day by giving 20% of all Thursday purchases to the Oceanic Society, and its Blue Habits programs that support ocean health. Additionally, on Earth Day, the first 100 guests at each location will receive green udon noodles, colored with spinach powder, to commemorate the partnership.

"As a Japanese concept, Marugame Udon respects the significant role the ocean plays in Japanese culture and history, and we want to drive consumer awareness of the small steps they can take to help care for our oceans," Marugame Udon Chief Operating Officer Pete Botonis said in a company press release. "We also recognize that we as a company can do much more to improve our impact on the oceans, and our partnership with Oceanic Society will offer us new ways to do better. We think supporting their ocean conservation mission is a meaningful way for us to celebrate Earth Day."

Founded in 1969 in San Francisco, Oceanic Society is a nonprofit dedicated to conserving marine wildlife and habitats by deepening the connections between people and nature.

"The pandemic has curtailed many of our expeditions and fundraising efforts, so to have companies like Marugame Udon raise awareness and funds for the important cause of ocean health and marine wildlife protection is so key as we begin opening back up," Roderic Mast, Oceanic Society president and CEO, said in the release. "Between plastic pollutions, overfishing and climate change, our oceans are in trouble, and we thank all who have stepped up to help us continue our important mission to save them."

Guests may also donate or adopt a species in support of Oceanic Society in honor of Earth Day.

Founded in Kakogawa City, Japan, Marugame Udon has more than 1,000 locations in 13 countries.

Krispy Rice uses environmentally safe containers that off set carbon dioxide in real time through investments in mature forestry projects. Image: C3

C3
Sam Nazarian's C3, a diversified F&B platform and delivery-only culinary concept incubator, is advancing the charge on sustainability in food delivery with year-round eco-conscious packaging, according to a company press release.

To create carbon-neutral boxes made from recyclable materials for its brands like Krispy Rice, Umami Burger and Sam's Crispy Chicken, C3 teamed up with Georgette Packaging to engineer environmentally safe containers that off set carbon dioxide in real time through investments in mature forestry projects.

The packaging is made of cardboard paper, vegetable-based glues, water-based coating and adorned with illustrations made from soy-based ink. A note on the bottom of each package indicates how to properly dispose of the compostable boxes.

Bellagreen
Every day is Earth Day at Houston-based restaurant, Bellagreen, which has a mantra of "Eat well and tread lightly. It's hosting a week-long Earth Day celebration packed with eco-friendly events at all seven of its locations April 19-24, according to a press release.

"At bellagreen, we are committed to contributing to a better world for the communities we serve by proudly protecting Mother Earth through our many sustainable environmental practices," Jason Morgan, CEO said in the release. "We take this commitment seriously. Bellagreen is the only restaurant in Texas where every location has a three-star green certification. Mother Earth is at the center of everything we do, and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate her beauty with our guests and teams during Earth Week this year."

Guests may visit bellagreen.com or stop by stores to check out a variety of activities, discounts and to enter the brand's Earth Week Sweepstakes for a chance to win eco-friendly products valued at over $350.

Founded in 2008, Bellagreen serves scratch-made appetizers, soups, salads and sandwiches.

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