It is completely free! OFRs can choose to donate to Surfrider's Plastic Pollution Initiative HERE.
The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program recognizes restaurants that are committed to cutting out wasteful single-use plastic and offers a simple, straightforward framework to help them make sustainable choices for our ocean. The result is a community of like-minded restaurants we can promote, support, and lift up as examples of success to influence plastic reduction legislation. The larger we grow our network of Ocean Friendly leaders, the more mainstream the concept of plastic-free becomes.
Interested in becoming an Ocean Friendly Restaurant? It is completely free to join!
Mandatory Criteria (All 7 Required):
* Foodware includes dinnerware, drinkware, silverware, and ramekins/containers.
** Exceptions may be made for naturally occurring materials (e.g. hay, bamboo) and reusables (e.g. metal, glass), not including bio-based plastic. Straws should be provided to anyone who needs one, including people with disabilities. Read more here.
Check out our Quick Guide (English) or Quick Guide (Spanish) for more tips to meet each of the criteria.
Review our Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide 2.0 to find product alternatives, a decision matrix to help review products and avoid greenwashing, and OFR case studies.
Optional Criteria (Choose At Least 3):
* Locally sourced, sustainable seafood is preferred and should be prioritized when Seafood Watch recommendations do not apply.
** Examples include installing low-flow faucets and toilets, offering drinking water upon request only, no hosing down outside to reduce urban runoff, proper disposal of FOG, and up-to-date septic or sewage to prevent wastewater pollution.
*** Examples include switching to LED lighting, installing solar panels, using Energy Star certified appliances and/or other efforts to use less energy.
Restaurants that meet all of the criteria are recognized as a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Restaurant!
It is completely free! OFRs can choose to donate to Surfrider's Plastic Pollution Initiative HERE.
The OFR membership is good for 1 year. We require that restaurants renew their membership every year. The program is free no matter how many times you renew.
Please email ofr@surfrider.org to order a new one.
Check out our Bioplastics Facts & Resources page to learn more or email ofr@surfrider.org with any specific questions.
Get started by filling out the signup form below.
Visit our Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants page for more information.
Visit our Ocean Friendly Hotels page for more information.
The Surfrider Foundation acknowledges that we cannot claim that all listed Ocean Friendly Restaurants are 100% in compliance with our standards at all times, but that the Surfrider Foundation strives to diligently review compliance on a regular basis. If an Ocean Friendly Restaurant is found to be out of compliance, they are removed from the website as quickly as possible. Such a restaurant will not be reinstated on the list of Ocean Friendly Restaurants until the compliance issue is remedied.