CIRCULAR KITCHENS

Changing our food system one kitchen and one neighbourhood at a time

About us

Circular Kitchens is a Community Interest Company (CIC) helping hospitality businesses become fully circular. We work with restaurants, cafés, pubs, bakeries and food producers to help them become plastic free and zero waste, and as local and ecological as possible.

By supporting independent businesses to make meaningful change, we are building a network of circular kitchens that strengthen local food systems, support regenerative producers, and show that hospitality can play a leading role in creating a more sustainable food future.

Our approach is practical but transformative. Through 12 clear pledges and a progressive 1–3 Star certification, we guide members step-by-step on their journey towards becoming Plastic Free, Ecological & Ethical, Local, and Zero Waste. Regular audits and local support ensure that progress is credible, measurable, and achievable in real hospitality environments.

The 4 Principles of a Circular Kitchen

PLASTIC-FREE

Eliminate single-use plastics from daily operations.

ECOLOGICAL

Replace conventional food, beverages, and products with responsibly produced alternatives.

LOCAL

Source locally and seasonally by prioritising the nearest viable supplier.

ZERO WASTE

Reduce waste in all forms-food, packaging, water, and energy.

How Does Certification Work?

Circular Kitchens takes a different approach to sustainability certification by making it practical, affordable, and rooted in local community relationships. Co-designed with hospitality leaders, our simple 1–3 Star framework translates circular principles into clear, step-by-step actions that independent kitchens can realistically implement with the support of their CK Rep, an enabling platform and our sustainable products catalogue.

PURPOSE

Our purpose is to help transform our food systems to become plastic free, ecological, local and zero waste.

VISION

Our vision is to help all kitchens in the UK become circular, with a positive and regenerative impact on communities, farms and the environment.

MISSION

Our mission right now is to launch the development of our Circular Kitchens Champions Course for everyone in hospitality. We plan to recruit 50 Circular Kitchens Representatives from universities across the UK, launch our new digital platform for members and our sustainable products catalogue, and scale to Canterbury, London and major cities and towns across the UK. We aim to have 500 new members by Q1 2027!

Ready to become a member of Circular Kitchens?

Join a growing network of hospitality businesses taking practical steps towards a more local, ecological, plastic-free and zero-waste future.

Become a MemberFAQs

Meet Our Founding Members

Circular Kitchens is being shaped by pioneering hospitality businesses already putting circular principles into practice. Explore the cafés, restaurants, bakeries and producers helping lead the way.