The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) published the GSTC Food and Beverage Standard in July 2026. Following its publication, GSTC is launching the Early Adopter Program (EAP) for the GSTC Food and Beverage Standard to support its practical application across food and beverage service providers in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The Early Adopter Program invites practitioners to apply the Standard within their own operations, document their implementation experiences, and share both successes and challenges. Through this process, participants will contribute practical insights and real-world examples that can help advance more sustainable food and beverage practices across the sector.

The program is open to organizations actively working in food and beverage service, including restaurants, catering companies, event F&B providers, and other practitioners operating across the tourism and hospitality sector.

Applications are open until 30 November 2026, with selected participants expected to complete onboarding in December 2026. Participants will then engage in a two-year program focused on practical implementation, collaboration, case study development, and knowledge sharing.

Throughout the program, several activities are planned to support the practical application of the GSTC Food and Beverage Standard and encourage exchange across the sector:

• Applying the GSTC Food and Beverage Standard in Practice: Participants will apply the Standard within their own operations and document their implementation experiences, including achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Case Study Development and Training Collaboration: Participants will collaborate with the GSTC Training team and contribute organizational case studies that can support training materials and wider sector learning.
• Knowledge Sharing: Participants will have opportunities to share their experiences through GSTC platforms, including GSTC Conferences, GSTC Training sessions, and a dedicated webinar for the GSTC Member network.
• Peer Exchange and Networking: Participants will connect with fellow practitioners through the GSTC network, creating opportunities to exchange practical knowledge, approaches, and experiences throughout the program.
• Advancing Sustainable F&B Practices: By documenting and sharing real-world implementation experiences, participants will help build practical knowledge on applying sustainability principles in food and beverage operations.

Through these activities, the Early Adopter Program aims to create a collaborative environment where practitioners can learn from one another, share practical experiences, and contribute to the continued advancement of sustainable food and beverage practices in tourism.

GSTC welcomes applications from food and beverage service providers committed to sustainability and interested in applying the GSTC Food and Beverage Standard in their operations. Participants should be able to engage meaningfully throughout the two-year program, document their experiences, and share relevant learnings through GSTC platforms and networks.

Accepted participants will also be required to register as GSTC Members and comply with the GSTC Early Adopter Program Participation Agreement.

A participation fee applies for the two-year program period and is tiered according to organization size.

Organizations interested in joining the GSTC Food and Beverage Early Adopter Program are invited to download the application form here and send it to [email protected]. 

For more information, please download the GSTC Early Adopter Introduction document. 

The GSTC Food and Beverage Standard provides a global sustainability framework for food and beverage service providers operating in the tourism sector.

Like the other GSTC Standards, it is structured around our four pillars:

(A) Sustainable Management
(B) Socioeconomic Impacts
(C) Cultural Impacts
(D) Environmental Impacts

The Standard provides a common framework to support food and beverage service providers in integrating sustainability into their operations and contributing to more sustainable tourism practices.

More information about the GSTC Standards can be found here.

Note: Participation in the GSTC Food and Beverage Early Adopter Program does not imply or guarantee any mark of assurance, such as certification.