The MICHELIN Green Star is a prestigious accolade awarded to restaurants that prioritise sustainability in their operations. These establishments are recognised not only for their culinary excellence but also for their dedication to minimising their environmental impact and promoting ethical practices. Each restaurant is unique in how it contributes to sustainability, but there are common threads in their efforts:
Sourcing Locally and Ethically
Many Green Star restaurants work directly with local growers, farmers, and fishermen, ensuring that their ingredients are fresh, sustainably sourced, and support local economies. This reduces food miles and promotes seasonal eating.
Foraging and Self-Sufficiency
Some chefs forage for ingredients in nearby natural environments, while others cultivate their own produce or raise animals on-site. Practices like no-dig gardening and using cover crops enhance soil health and promote biodiversity.
Environmental Stewardship
Beyond using sustainable ingredients, these restaurants often employ regenerative agriculture techniques, reduce waste, and use energy-efficient technologies to lower their carbon footprint.
Social Responsibility
These establishments often extend their sustainability efforts to include ethical labor practices, employee well-being, and support for local or global charitable initiatives. This can involve educational programs, collaborations with social enterprises, or contributions to food security projects.
What kind of things do MICHELIN Green Star restaurants do?
Every MICHELIN Green Star restaurant is different and works in its own unique way – but all make a difference to the world around them and act as role models to us all.
Many work directly with growers, farmers and fishermen; forage in hedgerows and woodlands; grow plants and rear animals; and use regenerative methods such as no-dig vegetable gardens and successional cover crop growing.
They also often go beyond environmental considerations to address issues related to ethics and wellbeing, as well as contributing to local, national or global charitable and educational projects.
Who is eligible for a MICHELIN Green Star?
Any restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide is eligible. A MICHELIN Green Star is a stand-alone distinction which can be awarded alongside other distinctions such as a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand or a MICHELIN Star.
What are the MICHELIN Inspectors looking for when they award a MICHELIN Green Star?
There is no specific formula for awarding a MICHELIN Green Star, as every restaurant and its surrounding region has a unique set of conditions. The Inspectors are simply looking for those at the top of their game when it comes to their sustainable practices.
They consider things such as: the provenance of the ingredients; the use of seasonal produce; the restaurant’s environmental footprint; food waste systems; general waste disposal and recycling; resource management; and the communication between the team and the guests about the restaurant’s sustainable approach.
Initiatives can take various forms and no two restaurants will be alike – all our Inspectors are looking for is a strong commitment to sustainable gastronomy.
When was the MICHELIN Green Star launched?
First revealed in 2020, the MICHELIN Green Star was introduced into several of the 2021 editions of the MICHELIN Guide.
How many restaurants hold a MICHELIN Green Star?
Currently, there are 291 MICHELIN Green Star restaurants across the world.
Looking for a new venture in a MICHELIN-starred organisation? Check out of jobs page to view our latest vacancies.
