Ocean Friendly Restaurants

A certification program offering restaurants an easy way to show their commitment to making sustainable choices for our Ocean.

Participating restaurants

69

During the pilot phase, 69 restaurants have already committed themselves to the program with support from their local Surfrider Europe chapters. Volunteers play a vital role by introducing the program to their communities and driving participation.

Help the food service industry towards a green transition

To reduce plastic pollution and reverse the trend of climate change, we all have a role to play.

Consumers are waking up to the power of their choices and adopting more sustainable lifestyles. Changes in behavior are easily done at home, but how can we stay true to our values when we’re dining out? In the food service industry, business models can be improved to reduce food waste, stop excessive use of plastic, and support local, organic producers. Ocean Friendly Restaurants is a program to assist restaurants owners in an eco-responsible transition within their daily offerings, operations and environmental outlook.

Program objectives

By adapting the original program launched by Surfrider US for a more European context in respect to Member states specificities, Surfrider Europe engages itself in the sustainable transition of the food service industry and calls for the pursuit of this global effort towards Ocean protection.

Objectives:

Establish an inclusive program criteria that is accessible, inviting, and allows a variety of restaurant models to make sustainable changes that are appropriate for their unique business.

Give citizens more transparency into the food service industry and the opportunity to choose restaurants that support their eco-responsible values.

Reduce the environmental impact of the food service industry by following the adoption of targeted legislative measures.

What is Ocean Friendly Restaurants?

“A program to increase awareness, drive behavioral change, and improve sustainability within Europe's food service industry. ”

Ocean Friendly Restaurants is a program that defines an eco-responsible set of guidelines to which any European restaurant owner can subscribe. The aim of the program is to help and guide restaurant owners towards an ecological transition and make it easy for them to reduce their impact!

Guidelines

8 mandatory criteria

Plus a choice of 5 out of the following 14 options

. No use of plastic bottle for beverages, including take away

. Free tap/fountain water at the consumers disposal

. The client’s reusable container can be used for taking away or remaining food

. Practices to reduce the packaging of the food for what concerns provider’s chain

. Vegan option in the menu

. No more paper communication (flyer, posters, etc.)

. Energy-save systems (electricity, water, etc.)

. No single-use napkins

. Put sign in toilets to invite people to throw only paper in the toilets

. No single-use towels in the toilets

. Organize a Surfrider action or event close to or in the restaurant (organize an Ocean Initiative, hosting an “Apér’Océan” of the local Surfrider group, etc.)

. No seasoning in individual packages when consuming onsite

. Possibility of composting food onsite

. Fishes proposed at the menu comes from sustainable fishing

Subscribing to Ocean Friendly Restaurants, what’s the benefit?

COMMUNITY

Adhering to the Ocean Friendly Restaurant guidelines connects businesses to a larger community committed to the food service industry green transition. By subscribing to the program, a restaurant owner will be part of an extensive global network and thus contribute to the ecofriendly movement.

SUPPORT

Restaurant owners will be given advice and suggestions on how to initiate the change and make it sustainable in the long term. Participants will benefit from support by their local Surfrider volunteer chapter as well as expert advice on how to adapt to the European context.

COMMUNICATION

As a certified Ocean Friendly Restaurant, the business’s commitment to Ocean protection is made visible and legitimate. Grow your business by reaching new customers that can trust that they are supporting a business that prioritizes the same eco-friendly values they do.

How to subscribe to the program?

Restaurant owners, volunteers, clients, do you wish to take part in the program?
We invite you to contact your closest Surfrider Europe Chapter.

Find local chapter

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PASSION

The passion for the oceans, the coastline and the pleasures animate everyone who supports Surfrider and guides the organization's action.

SHARING

Surfrider is rooted in the value of sharing and participation through inclusion and diversity.

RESPECT

Surfrider seeks a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

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