Eco-Certification for Restaurants
VI Clean Coasts works with local food serving businesses to reduce single-use plastics, styrofoam, and other pollutants. The restaurants below have taken actionable steps to operate more sustainably and are recognized as VI Clean Coasts Eco-Certified.
Explore Eco-Certified Restaurants on Our New Map!
Find participating businesses across St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
Certified Restaurants by Island
11 total restaurants have been certified in St. John:
- Bajo El Sol (Eco-Certified Plus)
- Lime out VI
- Little Olive Food Truck
- Lovango Rum Bar
- Love City BBQ Company
- Paulie’s Luncheonette
- STJ Speakeasy
- Sun Dog Cafe
- The Lime Inn
- The Longboard
- Wine Shop VI
24 total restaurants have been certified in St. Thomas:
- 3 Palms
- 81C
- Barefoot Buddha (Eco-Certified Plus)
- Buddha Sushi
- Caribbean Fish Market
- Fairchild’s Beach Bar & Grill
- Fish Bar
- Hook’d USVI
- Island Edge Culinary
- Island Time Pub
- Leatherback Brewing Company (St. Thomas)
- Nomad / Nomads Bar and Grill
- Ocean 180
- Pangea Terra & Ocean to Table Sustainable Restaurant
- Scoops and Brew
- Stir It Up Coffee Shop & Bakery
- Sudi’s Caribbean Bar and Grille
- Sugar Brown Farms
- Sun & Sea Bar & Grill
- Tarpon’s Tale
- The Easterly
- The Island Green
- The Shack at Hull Bay
- Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters (Eco-Certified Plus)
9 total restaurants have been certified in St. Croix:
- Anato (Eco-Certified Plus)
- Bici Cafe
- Cafe 50
- Leatherback Brewing Company (St. Croix)
- Louie’s Nacho and Beach Bar
- Rogue Cafe
- Too Chez
- Turtle’s Deli
- Twin City Coffee House (Eco-Certified Plus)
What is Eco-Certification?
An Eco-Certified restaurant is one that has eliminated expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) from its operations. Styrofoam is one of the most harmful and persistent forms of waste found along U.S. Virgin Islands coastlines. The Eco-Certification program is designed to be achievable for all food businesses and serves as a first step toward reducing environmental and human health impacts.
Eco-Certified restaurants gain visibility, personalized guidance, and eligibility for seed funding to support eco-friendly upgrades.
If you:
operate a food business in the USVI,
- want to eliminate Styrofoam,
want to reduce other single-use waste,
want to show customers you care about sustainability…
Financial Incentives & Seed Funding
VI Clean Coasts understands that cost is one of the biggest barriers for restaurants looking to reduce single-use plastics and Styrofoam. To help remove that barrier, seed funding is available to eligible participating businesses.
These funds are designed to help offset the upfront costs of switching to more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable items, water stations, or other approved improvements. Funding availability may vary but participating and Eco-Certified restaurants are prioritized.
In short, VI Clean Coasts is not just asking restaurants to make changes… we are helping pay for them.
Want to Take the Next Step?
Restaurants that want to do more can earn Eco-Certification Plus. This next level certification recognizes businesses that voluntarily adopt additional sustainability practices beyond eliminating styrofoam.
To earn this, restaurants must complete any three actions across the categories shown in the diagram. Businesses can choose the options that best fit their operations and VI Clean Coasts provides guidance throughout the process.
Upcoming Tabling Events
Coral Conservation Festival, Part of Reef Week on St. Croix
April 12, 2026
Estate Little Princess Plantation, U.S. Virgin Islands, Christiansted, St Croix
📍 Located at the VICC’s Table
https://dpnr.vi.gov/coral-reef-week/
Stop by the Virgin Islands Conservation Society’s table at the Coral Conservation Festival to learn more about our conservation programs, ongoing projects, and ways to get involved in protecting the Virgin Islands’ natural resources.
Address shown below on Google Maps.
What Businesses Are Saying
In Action
A look at Eco-Certified restaurants and community efforts supporting clean coasts throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
FAQ
Eco-Certification means your restaurant has taken concrete steps to reduce waste, limit harmful materials like styrofoam and single-use plastics, and adopt more environmentally responsible practices that make sense for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Certification recognizes effort and progress, not perfection.
No. We understand that alternatives are not always available or affordable in the USVI. Certification focuses on reducing the most harmful items where possible and making realistic improvements over time.
The timeline can vary depending on the number of applications received, but we work hard to schedule an initial consultation within two weeks of an application being submitted. From there, the process moves at a pace that works for your business and available resources.
No. VI Clean Coasts is a voluntary, education-based program. We do not issue fines, citations, or penalties. The goal is to support businesses with practical guidance and resources, not to police operations.
At this time, participation and certification are free. The program is grant-supported to help reduce barriers for local businesses.
Yes. A VI Clean Coasts team member will conduct a brief, non-disruptive site visit to review current practices, answer questions, and provide recommendations. Visits are collaborative and supportive.
Certified restaurants:
Are listed on the VI Clean Coasts Eco-Certified Restaurants page
Receive a window decal or certificate to display
Gain positive visibility with residents and visitors who value sustainable businesses
Show leadership in protecting our coastline and waters
Eligible for seed funding, when available, to help offset costs associated with switching to more sustainable practices
Contact us!
St. Thomas & St. John
Zenobia@viconservationsociety.org
St. Croix
info@viconservationsociety.org
