Our listing approach

Good growth. Clear evidence.

Across our directories, we look for a real local connection and a specific, documented positive practice. We do not award an overall green score.

1. A real local connection

A public location in the directory’s area or a clearly stated service for people there. A registered office is not treated as a shop. Collection-only, remote and appointment-based services are described as such.

2. A positive practice with a source

Examples include repair and reuse, shared resources, community provision, access to skills, energy support, everyday cycling and specific sourcing commitments. Independent ownership alone is not evidence of positive impact. A practice tag describes the reason for inclusion, not an audited impact outcome.

3. Clear limits

“Public-source listing” means the linked published information has been reviewed. It does not mean the directory has interviewed the operator, visited the site, audited a supply chain or independently verified every claim. Self-reported claims remain self-reported. No membership, partnership or agreement to join is implied.

When details still need confirmation

In our first Walthamstow directory, “Needs confirmation” identifies council-listed repair or resale leads whose current trading details have not been confirmed with the operator. These are included for discovery, not presented as verified active shops. Their cards and profiles carry a warning, uncertain postcodes are omitted and map directions are withheld. Use the listing-status filter to separate them from the other public-source entries.

Fair ordering

Results are alphabetical by default. Search and filters change which entries are shown, not their impact rating. There are no paid rankings or purchased approval badges in this edition. Any future advertising or sponsorship must be clearly identified and kept separate from evidence review.

Review dates and corrections

Each profile shows its own source-review date. Review does not mean continuous monitoring. Opening times, stock, access and eligibility can change, so always check with the operator. Use “Suggest a correction” on a listing to prepare an update. Suggestions and corrections can be sent through WhatsApp. Every listing change still needs editorial approval.

Separate services, not inflated membership

The Forest Recycling Project paint service and Walthamstow Tool Library have separate entries because they offer different services. They are not counted as unrelated businesses. Nourished Communities is one listing with two local branches. The Gleaners and Waltham Forest Echo have separate operators from their host or postal venues, and The Tool House is not Walthamstow Tool Library. This is a directory of services, not a membership tally.

Before a member label is introduced

An operator identity check, agreement to join and documented evidence review would be needed. Any formal accreditation would need a link to the issuing body’s current register. A fee must never buy an evidence label.

One shared standard. Local context.

All six checks are required for new candidates. They are eligibility checks, not points in an impact score. Existing profiles retain their individual evidence and status; this guide does not mean every historical listing has passed the current review process.

  1. Eligible operator. Businesses, social enterprises and independent charities with qualifying local services can be considered, including charities that do not trade. Government and public organisations are excluded. A public venue or funder does not by itself make an independent operator public.
  2. Real local connection. An actual branch or explicitly local service is needed. A registered office, postcode or broad marketing area alone is insufficient.
  3. Current service. The specific service must be active and accessible under clearly described conditions, rather than an old event or future aspiration.
  4. Documented positive practice. A concrete practice needs supporting evidence. Local ownership, charitable status, vegan products or an eco label alone do not establish positive impact.
  5. Honest scope. Describe who can use the service, access conditions and what the evidence supports. Attribute operator claims and preserve limitations across translations.
  6. No material unresolved conflict. Contradictory evidence must be addressed. One positive practice cannot cancel a material unresolved problem.

We assess the specific service and practice described, rather than certify the whole organisation. Numerical impact claims need evidence of their method, period and scope.

Explore the local guides.

Each area uses the applicable guide below. Where no distinct borough or district guide exists, the wider guidance is labelled explicitly. These guides explain our approach; they do not establish listing coverage.

Greater LondonEnglish

UK guidance currently covers Greater London; it is not a separate standard for every UK city.

What we look for locally

Repair, reuse, refill and borrowing; shared skills and community services; clearly described home-energy advice or support.

What needs checking

Check the actual borough and service catchment, resident or referral eligibility, appointments and programme dates. Distinguish energy advice, assessments and installations; do not assume savings.

Inclusion describes a specific practice, not an overall impact score, certification or confirmed membership. Check each profile’s evidence and limitations.

Costa RicaEnglish

Country guidance applies across the registered areas. It does not imply that every province or canton has researched listings or its own local guide.

What we look for locally

Documented local services, repair and shared skills, producer relationships and community or conservation practices with a clear local connection.

What needs checking

Confirm the actual town and canton, seasonal access and the specific benefit claimed. An eco label, tourism offer or local product alone is insufficient. Respect communities’ own descriptions; do not infer identity or consent.

Inclusion describes a specific practice, not an overall impact score, certification or confirmed membership. Check each profile’s evidence and limitations.

Costa RicaEspañol

Las pautas del país se aplican a las zonas registradas. Esto no implica que cada provincia o cantón tenga fichas investigadas o una guía local propia.

Qué buscamos en la zona

Servicios locales documentados, reparación y habilidades compartidas, relaciones con productores y prácticas comunitarias o de conservación con una conexión local clara.

Qué hay que comprobar

Confirma la localidad y el cantón, el acceso estacional y el beneficio concreto declarado. Una etiqueta ecológica, una oferta turística o un producto local no bastan por sí solos. Respeta cómo se describen las comunidades; no presupongas identidad ni consentimiento.

La inclusión describe una práctica concreta; no es una puntuación global de impacto, certificación ni confirmación de membresía. Consulta las fuentes y limitaciones de cada ficha.

Hong KongEnglish

This guide covers Hong Kong. Districts use this guidance unless a distinct local guide is available; it is not a mainland China standard.

What we look for locally

Repair, reuse, refill and redistribution; community learning, support and conservation education with a documented local service.

What needs checking

Check the district, floor and unit, public access and accepted items. Distinguish shopping, donating, volunteering and eligibility for support. English and Traditional Chinese descriptions must preserve the same claims and limits.

Inclusion describes a specific practice, not an overall impact score, certification or confirmed membership. Check each profile’s evidence and limitations.

香港繁體中文

本指引涵蓋香港。各區沿用此指引，直至有獨立本地指引；這並非中國內地的準則。

我們在本地關注甚麼

維修、重用、補充裝及物資再分配；有本地服務資料支持的社區學習、支援及保育教育。

需要查核甚麼

核實地區、樓層及單位、公眾進入安排和接受物品。分清購物、捐贈、義工及受助資格。英文與繁體中文介紹須保留相同的陳述及限制。

收錄說明的是具體做法，並非整體影響評分、認證或已確認的會員資格。請查看每篇介紹的資料來源及限制。

TorontoEnglish

Canadian guidance currently focuses on the City of Toronto, not the wider Greater Toronto Area or every Canadian city.

What we look for locally

Food access and redistribution, community support and shared skills; repair, reuse, refill and borrowing with a specific Toronto-serving activity.

What needs checking

Check the City of Toronto boundary, actual branch or delivery area, referrals and catchment eligibility. Distinguish an independent operator from a municipal venue; do not infer access, languages or community identity.

Inclusion describes a specific practice, not an overall impact score, certification or confirmed membership. Check each profile’s evidence and limitations.