The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has unveiled a new global rating system that will see restaurants and diners able to compare an eating establishment's sustainability credentials on an international level.

The SRA’s Global Sustainability Rating means diners can check a restaurant's credentials for several areas, including food provenance, energy management, waste and water policies and staff treatment.

Restaurants complete a ‘rigorous survey’ by answering 14 questions regarding their sustainability. They are then given a score, with a high score bestowing the title of ‘Sustainability Champion’ upon the restaurant.

The status of Sustainability Champion comes in three grades: One-Star, for scores of 50 per cent or more, Two-Star for scores of at least 60 per cent, and Three-Star for scores of 70 per cent or higher.

Raising the sustainability profile of restaurants

The SRA has been rating UK restaurants on sustainability since 2010. Commenting on the launch of the global rating system, its Managing Director, Mark Linehan, said: “The SRA's Rating has undoubtedly raised the profile of restaurant sustainability in the UK, given restaurants the recognition they deserve for the good things they are doing and importantly provided consumers with a means of finding places to eat that match their values.

“We are confident that we can replicate all these benefits globally, thereby making a significant contribution to the raising of social and environmental standards across the hospitality industry worldwide."

Similarly, Raymond Blanc OBE, chef and President of the SRA, said: “This is wonderful news for anyone, like me, who cares about where their food comes from and how it is produced.

“It is encouraging to know that when I am eating out, anywhere in the world, I can check if the restaurant is doing the important things that will help lead to a more sustainable future for us all.

“This is the birth of an international common language of restaurant sustainability. The world’s best chefs have a duty to operate responsibly and I would urge more of my fellow chefs around the world to take the test.”

Blanc’s restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, was awarded a Three-Star Sustainability Champion rating.

Various leading restaurants around the world have either completed the SRA rating or have committed to doing so, including two Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo, Narisawa, which recently won the Sustainable Restaurant Award at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants on 29 April by achieving the highest score among the 50 competing restaurants to complete the SRA’s new Global Rating survey.

Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa said: “We are committed to operating sustainably every day at Narisawa and we 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.”

Read more about the Sustainable Restaurant Association.