What we record, and how we check it
We publish our criteria so you can judge our judgement. Every business on sustainHK has to meet a baseline, and we tell you how well confirmed each listing is.
Baseline Eligibility
To be listed at all, a business must demonstrate at least two specific, observable sustainability features from the categories below. One feature is not enough — we are looking for a pattern, not a gesture.
Waste & Reuse
Features focused on eliminating waste at the source rather than managing it after the fact.
- Package-free or bulk sales
- Reusable takeaway containers
- Accepts customer-brought containers
- Active recycling or composting programme
Sourcing & Menu
Considerations regarding where products come from and their upstream environmental footprint. Note that third-party certifications are recorded separately.
- Local or regional sourcing
- Sustainable sourcing initiatives
- Vegetarian / vegan options
Energy & Building
Demonstrated and measurable reductions in energy use and carbon emissions, rather than vague pledges.
- Renewable energy usage
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Electric vehicle charging
Water
Features that conserve water resources and provide sustainable public access to drinking water.
- Water refill station open to the public
- Refillable amenities
Transparency
A commitment to being open about operations so that claims can be independently verified.
- Published sustainability reporting
- Openly documented features
- Willing to answer questions about operations
What we don't list
Being clear about what does not qualify matters as much as what does.
Marketing claims with nothing behind them
A green logo, a vague pledge, or the word 'eco' in a business name is not a feature. We need something specific and checkable.
Chain locations with no location-specific features
Corporate sustainability policy does not automatically qualify every branch. A location needs to be doing something itself.
A single feature that is now industry standard
Offering a discount for bringing your own cup is welcome, but on its own it no longer distinguishes a business. We ask for at least two meaningful features.
Certifications vs. features
sustainHK does not decide whether a business is sustainable. Instead, we separate independently verifiable certifications from factual, observable features so you can judge for yourself.
Certifications
Certifications are only shown when they can be independently checked against the issuing organisation's own public record. We always name the level and the issuer.
Sustainability Features
Features must be specific and observable initiatives. We do not use broad labels like "carbon neutral" or "zero waste" as these lack universal definitions and would imply a level of verification we have not undertaken.
How we verify
Qualifying and being verified are two different things. Every listing carries a badge showing how well confirmed its features are, so you always know what you are looking at.
An independent organisation has assessed and certified this business. The tier is granted only when sustainHK holds a link to the issuing organisation's own public record for that specific business. We always name the specific certification and its level so you can check it yourself. It is not a sustainHK judgement.
Someone from sustainHK or a partner organisation has visited or otherwise confirmed the listed features. We record when this happened.
The business or a community member told us about these features and we reviewed them for plausibility, but we have not independently confirmed them.
Why we don't use a rating score
sustainHK previously showed a 1-to-5 sustainability score. We removed it. A single number implied a rigorous audit process that we do not have the resources to run, and it flattened genuinely different kinds of effort into a false comparison. Named features and an honest verification level tell you more, and we can actually stand behind them.
Think we got something wrong?
If you believe a listed business does not meet these criteria, or that we have missed one that does, tell us. You can report an issue on any listing from its detail panel.
Know a business that qualifies?
Nominate a business