A recognised accreditation scheme is a great way to demonstrate that your commitment to ethical, sustainable business has been independently certified. It’s a sign to your customers, suppliers and community that you take these issues seriously. Promoting awards and accreditations can have a positive effect on other businesses around you, encouraging them to make positive commitments to change.

Consumers’ understanding of community has been strengthened by COVID-19. Recognising the importance of connection and support, consumers will organise in like-minded communities for socialisation and camaraderie.

MINTEL: 2021 Global food and drink trends

There are many options available to businesses, but three are most applicable to the hospitality sector:

Sustainable Restaurant Association: The SRA’s Food Made Good programme is the most globally recognised industry standard for measuring sustainability across the hospitality sector.

Green Key: The Green Key award is a voluntary eco-label recognising excellence in environmental and sustainable operations within the tourism industry. Green Key is held by more than 3,200 establishments around the world and applies to a range of accommodation businesses, attractions and restaurants.

Food for Life Served Here: Food for Life Served Here is a Soil Association scheme rewarding caterers for using locally sourced and ethical ingredients that support the local economy and protect the environment. It has three levels – bronze, silver and gold – covering ingredients, good practice and customer care.

Living Wage: The real Living Wage is based on the cost of living and voluntarily paid by hundreds of employers in Wales, and thousands of employers across the UK. Cynnal Cymru works in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation and other leading organisations in Wales to support employers with accreditation and work towards achieving the Living Wage for all workers in Wales.

If you’re looking for more information on sustainability issues, WRAP has a wide range of sector-specific resources and support for issues like reducing food waste and tackling single use plastics.

• Green Key eco-label award (opens new window)
• The Sustainable Restaurant Association (opens new window)
• Food for Life Served Here (opens new window)
• Living Wage for Wales (opens new window)
• UK Hospitality guide to sustainability and the hospitality industry (opens new window)
• WRAP hospitality and food service information (opens new window)