The Food Waste Certification for Restaurants
Why Certify Your Restaurant?
Your kitchen, independently verified
A third-party audit turns your sustainability commitment into proof — the kind that stands up to press scrutiny, supplier conversations, and award panels.
Built around how chefs actually work
Six pillars covering planning, prep, service, staff, guests, and circularity. A structured system that improves kitchen discipline without disrupting your creative process.
Food cost savings from day one
Certified restaurants reduce food waste by 25–35% per cover. On tight margins, that reduction compounds across every service and goes directly to your bottom line.
A reputation that precedes you
The PLEDGE certification is recognised by food critics, sustainability rankings, and corporate dining buyers — positioning your restaurant as a reference point, not a follower.
How our restaurant certification works
Sign up
Join the global movement and become a pledger by registering for The PLEDGE.
Review & Implement
Assess your current procedures and make necessary changes to align with The PLEDGE guidelines.
Schedule Audit
Contact The PLEDGE to schedule a third-party audit of your food waste prevention practices.
Audit Performance
The third party conducts the audit to evaluate your compliance with The PLEDGE standards.
Receive Certification
After completing the audit, you will receive your certification and join the ranks of food waste reduction champions!
How Refettorio Geneva Achieved the All Star score and strives for Zero Food Waste Fine Dining
“Creativity becomes a working tool rather than an aesthetic layer. The PLEDGE framework provides the transparency and coherence that aligns your daily actions with your environmental claims.” — Chef Walter el Nagar, Refettorio Geneva
Since adopting The PLEDGE framework, Refettorio Geneva moved to streamline the design stage of every menu, backed by daily waste monitoring, precision tracking, and a systematic approach to fermentation, dehydration, and preservation.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
All Star
Four levels of certification: Earn the recognition your kitchen deserves
The Mark of a certified restaurant
Every certified restaurant receives a complete set of assets to display, communicate, and celebrate their achievement.
Certificate
Plaque
Digital Asset
Merchandise
What restaurant teams ask us most
How long does the certification process take?
4 to 6 months from registration to certification. Hotel groups certifying multiple properties simultaneously can often streamline the timeline.
Do we need to change how we cook or source ingredients?
No. The PLEDGE framework works with your existing kitchen practices and supplier relationships. It structures and monitors what you are already doing, and identifies where the biggest gains are.
Which team members are involved in the certification?
Primarily the Head Chef and kitchen brigade, with involvement from the restaurant manager on planning and reporting. The framework is designed to be led from the kitchen, not imposed from outside it.
What does the independent audit assess?
Your kitchen is evaluated across 6 pillars. Auditors review your evidence on our compliance platform and either conduct an online or on-site inspection to determine your restaurant score.
Does certification help with press and award recognition?
Yes. An independently audited The PLEDGE certification provides the verified sustainability credentials increasingly required by food media, sustainability rankings, and dining award panels, particularly at fine dining and chef-led restaurant level.
Is there an annual renewal?
Yes. Annual renewal keeps your certification current and generates year-on-year data useful for press, ESG reporting, and tracking your kitchen's continuous improvement.
