The UK-based Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) this week debuted a global sustainability rating system to encourage more sustainable practices across the industry. More than 500 UK restaurants have already completed the rating system, a new international standard for the professional food community.
The UK-based Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) this week debuted a global sustainability rating system to encourage more sustainable practices across the industry. More than 500 UK restaurants have already completed the rating system, a new international standard for the professional food community.
The system consists of an online questionnaire used to gauge a restaurant’s commitment to three main criteria: the environment, society and sourcing. If the restaurant meets 50% of the goals, it is awarded one star, 60-69% merits 2 stars, and anything over 70% awards 3 stars.
If the star rating system seems familiar, it is surely because of the close connection to the Michelin rating system. It seems that many of the early adopters of this system are highly regarded luxury restaurants — last month, Narisawa, a 2-Michelin star rated restaurant in Tokyo, won the World’s 50 Best Restaurants' first Sustainable Restaurant Award. Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa commented, “We are committed to operating sustainably every day at Narisawa and are proud to communicate this globally. We operate sustainably because it is the right thing to do, as eating and gastronomy go hand-in-hand with sustainability and it comes naturally to me as a person as well as a chef to take care of nature.”
The SRA is slowly expanding its borders, with some high-end U.S. restaurant groups such as the Soho House Group and D&D London Restaurant Group signed on, as well as a few NGOs and environmental groups such as the Marine Stewardship Council and the Waste Action Resources Program (WRAP). Philip Lymbery, Chief Executive of another signee, Compassion in World Farming, is thrilled by the new endeavor. “We recognize the tremendous impact the SRA has had on sustainability across the hospitality sector. Animal welfare worldwide will improve significantly if the SRA can replicate its success with its global rating.”
While expanding the SRA's position and influence will certainly help further sustainability in high-end dining, it will not make it more accessible to the masses. A rating system for local diners, chain restaurants and frozen yogurt places could have an equally powerful impact across a much larger population. For now, it looks like we have to make room next to Michelin and Zagat for a new gold standard in restaurant rating.
Last month, Virgin Atlantic announced a partnership with the SRA to assess the sustainability of its global in-flight catering operation.
Published May 3, 2013 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT / 9pm BST / 10pm CEST