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Green Crown Application — Restaurant

The City of Charlotte celebrates eating and drinking establishments that utilizes environmentally sustainable business practices.This voluntary and free program brings awareness to establishments implementing environmentally sustainable business practices, encourages further implementation, and ultimately reduces the use of natural resources in the restaurant industry.

Personal Information

Full Name

Full Address

What type of business do you run?

Google Review Rating

Last Health Department Inspection Date

Sustainable Practices: Please check all sustainable practices your establishment currently performs to earn points toward your Crown. To qualify, participants must earn at least 15 total points, including:

  • Waste Management: at least 2 points
  • Energy and Water Conservation: at least 1 point
  • Pollution Reduction: at least 1 point
  • Commitment to the Community: at least 1 point

Note: Some practices are required and also count toward your 15-point total.

There are 73 total points available across all practices (15-point minimum to qualify; up to 58 additional points may be earned).

Vendor/Best Practices Sharing: We will collect your responses to the vendor and best-practices questions below to share with other certified Green Crown establishments for educational purposes.

The City of Charlotte does not endorse, recommend or approve any vendors listed by participating establishments. Vendor information is shared for informational purposes only.

Consent: I agree that the vendor names I provide in this application may be shared with other Green Crown establishments

Certification Requirements

Do you use NO Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) containers for service or takeout (e.g., cups, plates, to-go clamshells)? (Not eligible unless corrected.)

Do you provide non-essential single-use items (bags, straws, napkins, utensils, extra condiments, accessory items) only upon request or when necessary? (Not eligible unless corrected.)

Waste Management

Do you recycle and follow proper practices (items clean, dry, empty, not placed in plastic bags)?

Do you recycle any of the following materials at your establishment? Select all that apply to you.

Are all employees trained on proper recycling procedures?

Are you interested in formal recycling training?

Composting/Repurposing Food Waste

Which best describes your food/drink waste practices?

What items are composted?

What items are composted?

Grease and Oil

Are grease, fats and oils recycled or disposed of properly?

Reusables/Disposables/Packaging

Do you encourage reusable tableware (cups, plates, utensils, condiments) for dine-in service?

If disposable tableware is requested, do you use non-plastic biodegradable or compostable materials?

Do you use repurposed building materials (wood/metal/flooring, reclaimed furniture, etc.) in your space and/or furnishings?

Do you encourage buffet or family-style meal layouts to reduce individual packaging/waste?

Do you encourage customers (verbally and/or with signage) to bring reusable cups/containers/bags for leftovers?

Which bag option best describes your practice?

Are straws made of environmentally friendly material offered upon request?

Do you use reusable tablecloths and napkins?

Do you use reusable menus and/or online menus?

Do you use reusable transport containers for food arranged on site (catering, events, etc.)?

Do you use RSVPs or headcounts to plan food quantities and reduce food waste?

Do you offer email receipts before paper receipts?

Are paper towels eliminated in restrooms (e.g., hand dryers or cloth towel service)?

Energy and Water Conservation

Do you use electricity generated from renewable sources (e.g., solar panels/renewable energy program)?

Do you have low-flow toilets and/or low-flow/sensored faucets in restrooms?

Do you have at least two Energy Star/energy efficient appliances AND use LED bulbs in all fixtures?

Do you use a rain barrel for watering plants/herbs/gardens?

Do you use a thermostat schedule (programmable/smart thermostat) to save energy?

Do you offer at least one vegan or vegetarian entrée option?

Do you use beverage stations instead of plastic water bottles OR pour water only upon request?

Do you wash full loads of linens with cold water?

Pollution Reduction

Do you purchase and use fuel-efficient delivery vehicles?

Do you have an exhaust filtration system?

Do you use electric heaters instead of gas heaters for outdoor seating?

Do you use organic/environmentally friendly cleaning products?

Commitment to the Community

Do you purchase at least 50% of products from local or regional suppliers?

Do you pay for employee community service hours?

Do you donate to or sponsor community organizations, programs or events?

Do you donate unconsumed, perishable food to a shelter/nonprofit on a regular basis?

Do you participate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services' Adopt-a-Stream program?

Do you participate in Keep Charlotte Beautiful's Adopt-a-Street program?

Have you added Green Crown/sustainability practices to employee training (recycling, turning off lights, etc.)?

Certification Commitment (Acknowledgement)

If certified, we commit to:

  • Display the Green Crown certificate in our establishment
  • Display the Green Crown decal on a door/window
  • Post at least once per year on social media about our Green Crown certification

Do you acknowledge that commitment?

Do you know any other businesses who may want to be a part of the Green Crown Program?

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