Michelin retires Green Star distinction

Michelin has begun retiring the Green Star, its sustainability distinction for restaurants, and replacing it with a new editorial program called Mindful Voices. Michelin said in a June announcement that the Green Star, introduced in 2020 and limited to the culinary field, would be “discontinued” as Mindful Voices rolls out globally through 2026. Coverage of the change widened on August 6 after chefs told The Star the move removed a visible signal that helped diners identify restaurants with environmental commitments. ### When did Michelin actually make the change? Michelin announced the new direction in a June 2026 article on its official guide site. The company said Mindful Voices would debut at the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries ceremony on June 1 in Copenhagen and then expand across Europe and worldwide during 2026, while the Green Star would be discontinued. (guide.michelin.com) The August 6 attention came from chef reaction rather than a same-day Michelin release. The Star reported that Michelin had “quietly announced” the phaseout last month and that restaurants would no longer be able to advertise that they held the Green Star distinction. ### What was the Green Star supposed to do? (guide.michelin.com) Michelin described the Green Star as an annual award for restaurants “at the forefront” of sustainable practices. In an earlier explainer on its site, Michelin said the distinction recognized restaurants that held themselves accountable on ethical and environmental standards, worked with sustainable suppliers and reduced waste and non-recyclable materials. (thestar.com.my) That made the Green Star different from Michelin’s traditional one-, two- and three-star ratings, which are tied to cooking. The Green Star was a separate badge aimed at sustainability, and Michelin’s own materials framed it as a way to spotlight eco-focused practices alongside culinary recognition. ### What is replacing it? Mindful Voices is not a like-for-like award. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin said the new program is an editorial initiative designed to highlight people in gastronomy, hospitality and wine who are “pioneering new approaches,” rather than a formal distinction attached to a restaurant in the way the Green Star was. Michelin’s rollout began in the Nordics, where the guide site now carries Mindful Voices features and chef interviews. Michelin said the initiative starts with gastronomy and then extends to hospitality and wine. ### Why are chefs objecting? Chefs who spoke to The Star said the problem was visibility. The report said the Green Star gave diners a simple public marker and helped restaurants communicate their sustainability work without having to explain every practice from scratch. (guide.michelin.com) The Star quoted restaurateurs describing the badge as useful both commercially and symbolically. (guide.michelin.com) Their criticism was not that Michelin had stopped covering sustainability entirely, but that it had replaced a recognizable accolade with a looser editorial format. ### How does this show up in current Michelin guides? (thestar.com.my) Singapore’s 2026 guide shows the transition in real time. Honeycombers reported that the August 4 Singapore edition included 45 Michelin-starred restaurants, 97 Bib Gourmand eateries, 165 Michelin Selected spots and two Michelin Green Stars. CNA Luxury separately reported the 45 starred total from the Singapore ceremony at Raffles Sentosa. (thestar.com.my) Michelin’s official Singapore announcement said the 10th edition covered 307 establishments and included newly awarded and promoted restaurants, but Michelin’s current emphasis on its site is now split between the traditional guide categories and the newer Mindful Voices editorial project. That means some 2026 guides can still reflect Green Star-era recognitions even as Michelin phases the distinction out globally. (thehoneycombers.com) ### What happens next? Michelin said Mindful Voices will continue rolling out worldwide through 2026. The company’s official guide site remains the place where new country guides, ceremony results and Mindful Voices features are being published as the transition unfolds. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2)