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Sustainability Resource Hub: eco-friendly attributes, business resources, and more

Left to right: photo of Holbox‘s Baja Fish Taco by Liam Brown and photos of Fall Creek Farmers Market and Earth & Me on Yelp

Small business owners make choices that affect the environment every day—whether it’s sourcing inventory from a local producer or eliminating single-use plastics. And while preserving the environment requires systemic change, business owners possess collective power to influence their industries, consumers, and local governments by making sustainability a priority.

Since Yelp launched a suite of eco-friendly business attributes in 2022, tens of thousands of businesses have adopted them to showcase their commitment to sustainable practices—and to connect with customers who care. From 2023 to 2024, Yelp saw growth among attributes such as plastic-free packaging (up 32%), compostable containers (up 25%), EV charging stations (up 39%), and more.

Check out eco-friendly attributes you can add to your Yelp Business Page plus resources for how to communicate your eco-friendly values to your customers. It’s that easy to join a community of businesses making sustainable choices for the environment.

Explore the hub:

Eco-friendly business attributes

Business owners can add the following eco-friendly attributes to display on their Yelp Page. These free, searchable attributes help consumers find and support local businesses who have sustainable practices.

  • EV charging stations available
  • Plastic-free packaging
  • Provides reusable tableware
  • Bring your own container allowed
  • Compostable containers available

Other relevant attributes you can add include “Bike parking” and “Vegan.”

How to add the eco-friendly attributes to your Yelp Page

  1. Log in to Yelp for Business (Business Information tab)
  2. In the Amenities section, click Add or Edit
  3. Select Yes next to to each applicable attribute
  4. Click Save

Businesses can also showcase their eco-friendly efforts on Yelp by uploading relevant photos and filling out the “From the business” section.

From the Yelp Blog

Business resources

In conjunction with Plastic Pollution Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, Upstream, ReThink Disposable (Clean Water Fund), Reusable LA, Food Rescue Hero, and more, we’ve collected an array of sustainability resources for businesses.

For all business types

Reuse for Onsite Dining Library | Upstream
This library is a co-branded, collective library of more than 60 resources from 16 organizations to help businesses advocate for and achieve disposable-free dining. The resources can be used to build your case, write a policy, or guide implementation in your community.

Develop a small business sustainability plan
This guide covers why it’s important to have a plan and details the five steps to creating one for your small business.

8 benefits of becoming a sustainable business
This article from payroll company Gusto explains how adopting environmentally sustainable business practices can benefit both the planet and your business’s bottom line.

Five small business owners on practicing sustainability
This article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shares the stories of five business owners, from a family entertainment center in New Jersey to a framing and art supplies company in New Mexico.

Smart steps to sustainability 2.0 
An updated guide from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created digitally and designed for small businesses.

What really happens to your plastic “recycling”
Get the truth behind plastics and what happens to them after the recycling bin (spoiler alert: the details may surprise you).

Tools and calculators

The Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard | Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) and partners
A free, easy-to-use, science-based online tool that assesses the sustainability impacts of common foodware and food packaging choices.

Foodprints Calculators | Food Rescue Hero
Six different tools to help you understand how much your food choices impact the planet.

What’s your carbon footprint? quiz | Clever Carbon
Discover the impact of your travel, energy, and consumption habits. Plus, learn about carbon literacy and ways to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Reusable and sustainable foodware guides

Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide 2.0 | Surfrider
A guide for purchasing foodware like takeout containers, utensils, and cups. It includes a terminology breakdown, tiered foodware suggestions (noted as “best choice” or “good alternative”), and worksheets to help you evaluate the cost and benefits.

Quick Guide to Ocean Friendly Restaurants | Surfrider
A 7-step guide for restaurants to align with Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, with criteria like no plastic bags, paper straws only provided upon request, and beverages not being sold in plastic bottles.

The Truth About Bioplastics | Surfrider
A resource that explores that while bioplastics are often marketed as eco-friendly options, they can still end up as toxic as regular plastics. It explains why that’s the case and what you should use instead.

Choose to Reuse | Reusable LA
A collection of resources that break down why reusables are the best choice for both restaurants and customers, in English and Spanish. It shows that they’re safe and save money, all while protecting the planet.

Plastic-Free Eateries | Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC)
A guide for how restaurant and food business owner/operators can reduce plastic in food preparation, service, and delivery.

Reuse 101 | Upstream
A resource hub containing toolkits, reports, articles, podcasts, and more—designed to educate the community about reuse.

Reuse vs. Single-use: economics, and the environment | Upstream
These guides break down the impact reusables have in these three key areas. For example, the average savings for a small business are between $3,000 and $22,000—with environmental benefits that include eliminating 1,300-2,200 lbs. of waste per business.

The New Reuse Economy | Upstream
Check out the groundbreaking innovation and technology that make it possible for cafes, restaurants, professional offices, temporary venues and events, and college campuses to bring reusables into the food and beverage space.

Food rescue and insecurity

Food Rescue University | Food Rescue Hero
Learn more about how food rescue works with this robust set of materials that includes more info on the technology that connects food-service businesses, volunteers, and those in need.

412 Food Rescue FAQ | Food Rescue Hero
From a local Philadelphia food rescue, this FAQ answers questions like “how does food rescue work?” and “are donations tax deductible?”

On-demand videos

Redefining what we eat with Shuggie’s

In today’s competitive business landscape, differentiation is not just beneficial—it’s essential. As markets become saturated and consumer options increase, businesses must find unique ways to stand out and capture attention, especially in the restaurant business, where differentiation can often be the key to survival and success.

Shuggie’s, a pioneering restaurant in San Francisco, has redefined dining by focusing on sustainability and reducing food waste. By transforming conventional sourcing, menu creation, and customer experience practices, founders Kayla Abe and David Murphy demonstrate how businesses can thrive by embracing innovation.

Read more about their story.

How everyday chores inspire change with Spin Laundry

Spin Laundry, started in 2014 by Morgan Gary, uniquely prioritizes sustainability by investing in the most energy-efficient machines in the world, providing clients chemical free detergents for free, using LED bulbs, offsetting a portion of their electricity through energy programs, and donating lost clothing and socks to local shelters.

Doing it ‘for the bees’ with Khaled’s Alive Bee Removal Service

Khaled Almaghafi is like the bees he keeps—hardworking, generous, and respectful. After growing up in a family of beekeepers in Yemen, Khaled moved to California, which he’d heard was paradise for bees. He initially struggled to find a job, but eventually connected with a local in the beekeeping industry. He then went on to start two businesses of his own: Khaled’s Alive Bee Removal Service and Bee Healthy Honey Shop.

Between the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has directly affected his loved ones, and environmental factors continually threatening bee populations, Khaled has endured a range of hardships. But he remains optimistic and persistent, throwing his energy toward teaching community members about beekeeping and supporting his family through his businesses.

Read more about Khaled’s story.