Michelin retires Green Star May 18

Michelin said on May 18 that it will discontinue its Green Star sustainability distinction and replace it with a new editorial platform called Mindful Voices, widening the guide’s sustainability coverage beyond restaurants. The change was announced in a Michelin Guide post published that day and described by international director Gwendal Poullennec as part of a broader move into hospitality and wine. Michelin said the Green Star, introduced six years ago and focused on the culinary arts, would be phased out as Mindful Voices rolls out globally. The first public launch of the new platform is scheduled for June 1 at the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony in Copenhagen. ### When did Michelin make the change official? Michelin published the announcement on May 18 in a “News & Views” post on its official guide site. The company said Mindful Voices would be introduced as a global editorial initiative and that, “at the same time,” the Green Star would be discontinued. Le Monde reported on May 19 that Poullennec had outlined the shift as Michelin works to position itself more broadly across what it called the “art of living,” extending beyond restaurant rankings into hotels and wine. (guide.michelin.com) That framing matches Michelin’s own description of recent moves into hospitality and vineyards. ### What is replacing the Green Star? Mindful Voices is not a new award. Michelin said it is an editorial platform that will “highlight and share the stories and pioneering practices” of chefs, hoteliers and wine producers across its website, app, social media, print magazine and events. Gwendal Poullennec said in the Michelin announcement that the platform would give visibility to people “rewriting the rules in their respective fields.” Michelin said the project would begin with gastronomy and then extend to hospitality and wine later in 2026. (guide.michelin.com) ### What happens to the Green Star now? The Green Star had been limited to restaurants and culinary sustainability. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin said that narrower format would end as the company shifts toward a people-centered platform covering multiple parts of hospitality. Michelin has used the Green Star in recent years across several local guides, including U.S. editions such as Colorado, where the company awarded four Green Stars in its 2023 debut guide. (guide.michelin.com) That history underscores that the distinction had been built into Michelin’s existing awards structure before the May 18 decision. ### How does this fit Michelin’s broader expansion? (guide.michelin.com) Michelin said Mindful Voices follows its expansion to more than 60 destinations and its broader push into hotels and wine. The company said the new format was designed to “move beyond local borders” and better capture gastronomy, hospitality and vineyards together. (webwire.com) Cleveland is also set to join the Michelin Guide’s America Great Lakes edition in 2027, according to Cleveland.com, making restaurants there eligible for Michelin Stars, Bib Gourmand and Select recognition. That expansion comes alongside Michelin’s changes to how it covers sustainability and hospitality more broadly. (guide.michelin.com) ### Who is Gwendal Poullennec? Gwendal Poullennec has been Michelin Guide international director since September 2018, when Michelin said he succeeded Michael Ellis. Michelin said Poullennec had previously overseen international deployment of the guides in the United States and Asia and helped launch editions including New York City, San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Bangkok and Taipei. (cleveland.com) June 1 is the next key date. Michelin said Mindful Voices will be unveiled at the Nordic Countries ceremony in Copenhagen, with a wider European and then global rollout planned through the rest of 2026. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2)