Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca has held CarbonNeutral® company certification since 2016 under The CarbonNeutral Protocol, renewed annually with Climate Impact Partners (formerly Natural Capital Partners). The certification requires measurement of Scope 1 and 2 emissions (and some Scope 3) as a prerequisite. However, no publicly disclosed GHG inventory with specific Scope 1/2 figures in tonnes CO2e from 2022 onwards has been found — no standalone sustainability report with verified emission totals is publicly accessible

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Wahaca score?

No formal public Scope 3 inventory has been located. However, Wahaca has engaged meaningfully with supply chain emissions: it collaborated with Klimato to calculate lifecycle carbon emissions for every menu item, and lists carbon ratings (low/medium/high) on its menu — reportedly the only UK chain to do so per Which? (2024). It has banned air freight, sources 60%+ of its menu from vegetarian dishes, reduced beef to one menu item (reportedly reducing from 420 to 10 cows per week per MCA profile o

Emissions Trajectory: How does Wahaca score?

No year-on-year published absolute emissions figures in tonnes CO2e are publicly available for 2022–2024, preventing verification of an absolute downward trajectory. Wahaca's environmental policy (last reviewed October 2024) states a commitment to reduce carbon outputs 15% from 2021–2024, in line with science-based targets, with a net zero goal by 2025 under the Net Zero Now protocol. A separate source states a 4.2% per annum reduction target with a net zero goal by 2030. Whether the 15% target

Energy Source: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca's environmental policy (October 2024) states: 'From April 2021 all energy contracts within our control will be sourced from 100% renewable electricity and gas.' The Paddington restaurant (opened April 2024) features an all-green energy, electric-only kitchen. LED lighting has been installed across all restaurants since 2011, and energy efficiency measures include demand-driven ventilation, heat recovery from refrigeration, motion sensor lighting and flow controllers in all plumbing. The r

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca has documented nature-relevant sourcing policies: all fish is MSC-certified (since 2008), avocados sourced from LEAF/GlobalGAP-certified suppliers, palm oil, soya, tea, coffee and sugar all sourced sustainably per Which? (2024). Beef has been reduced to one menu item and the menu is over 50% vegetarian, materially reducing land-use pressure from the highest-impact commodity. Timber used in restaurant fit-outs is FSC-certified per SKA Gold criteria. No TNFD disclosure or formal biodiversit

Resource Use & Waste: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca reports all waste is diverted from landfill via Recorra, with average recycling rates of 86% across restaurants, waste segregated into at least five streams (glass, aluminium, plastic, paper/card, food). Food waste is converted into biogas and liquid fertiliser via anaerobic digestion. Used cooking oil is recycled into biofuel by Olleco; from 2018–2020 alone this saved 586,894kg of CO2e. Takeaway packaging is primarily bagasse (sugar cane fibre waste product), predicted to save 16 tonnes

Water Impact: How does Wahaca score?

Flow controllers have been installed in all plumbing across restaurants to reduce water consumption. The Which? survey (data from 2022/2023) assessed water consumption as part of its methodology, and Wahaca participated and scored well overall, suggesting some water data was shared. However, no publicly disclosed quantified water consumption figures (m³ or litres per year) from 2022 onwards have been found. No formal water reduction targets, water stewardship programme, or watershed engagement i

Targets & Commitments: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca's environmental policy (October 2024) states a target to reduce carbon outputs 15% from 2021–2024 'in line with Science based targets' and a net zero goal by 2025 under the Net Zero Now protocol. A separate source (restaurantonline, May 2024) states net zero by 2030 at 4.2% per annum reduction. No SBTi registration or validation has been found on the SBTi dashboard. The reference to 'science based targets' appears to describe alignment with the 4.2% annual reduction rate, not formal SBTi

Transparency & Accountability: How does Wahaca score?

Wahaca has a dedicated sustainability lead (Carolyn Lum, referenced in MCA Hospitality Awards 2025 finalist profile). Co-founders Mark Selby and Thomasina Miers have driven sustainability from inception and it is embedded in brand identity. An environmental and social policy document is publicly available on the website (last reviewed 15 October 2024). Wahaca participated in Which?'s 2024 sustainability survey (data from 2022/23), which assessed emissions, water, waste, sourcing and targets. The

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Wahaca score?

No regulatory actions, greenwashing rulings, ASA complaints, environmental fines, or credible NGO criticism specific to Wahaca have been identified in searches covering controversies, greenwashing, and climate lawsuits. No InfluenceMap profile exists for Wahaca, consistent with a small hospitality operator with no documented lobbying activity. The company is not a member of trade associations known to oppose climate policy. Wahaca is a founding member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association an

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Wahaca Sustainability Score: 50/100

◌ Pending Review

🌮 Food Service / RestaurantsGBMaking progress

~1,500 employees~£40M revenueRanked #82 of 503Website ↗

Wahaca is a food service / restaurants company headquartered in GB. Based on our 10-question rubric, Wahaca scores 50/100 — rated as making progress on sustainability but with room to improve.

SINK Score Breakdown

How we calculated Wahaca's score using our formula: (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale Penalty

Base Impact

Food Service / Restaurants industry ceiling

Performance

52/100

10 questions scored below

Scale Penalty

emissions volume multiplier

SINK Score

(0.3 × 45 + 0.7 × 52) × 1 = 50

10-Question Rubric Breakdown

Click any question to see the reasoning, sources and community challenges.

4/10

Carbon Footprint — Operations

4/10

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain

3/10

Emissions Trajectory

7/10

Energy Source

5/10

Nature & Biodiversity Impact

7/10

Resource Use & Waste

4/10

Water Impact

5/10

Targets & Commitments

5/10

Transparency & Accountability

Q10

8/10

Controversies & Red Flags

Community Verification

0 verifications · 0 challenges · Scored using SINK editorial review

Last scored: 9 Apr 2026

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