Reusables win in SF
More and more San Francisco food service operators are switching to reusables for dine-in and take-out. They're finding that customers love it, and it's better for the planet and better for business. This page contains all the information you need, including video, downloadable materials, and more, to learn why Reusables Win in SF – and beyond!
For Bay Area food service operators
Once you've had a chance to learn more, sign up for a free consultation with ReThink Disposable, a local nonprofit offering free assistance to help food service operators make the transition to reusable foodware.
For organizations, businesses and individuals
Want to support Bay Area food service operators and encourage them to switch to reusables? Use our marketing toolkit to educate your followers about the many benefits of reusable foodware. It includes six suggested posts, email, and blog content, complete with copy and graphics. We encourage you to share these resources widely!
Click below for a downloadable Reusables Win brochure
View in English
Reusables Win in SF Livestream
Check out this informational livestream recording featuring local restaurant owners who have successfully switched to reusables – and aren’t looking back. Hear their stories, and learn about their successes and challenges that apply to you and your business.
Subtitled translations are also available below in Spanish and Chinese.
Subtítulos en español
中文字幕
Why do reusables win?
Cost savings
The data from hundreds of case studies shows that making the switch from single-use to reuse for on-site dining always ends up saving money – 100% of the time – even when you take into account the set-up and ongoing costs. Using sanitized reusable foodware for orders instead of disposables can save a restaurant on average $3,000 – $22,000 annually, while increasing operational efficiency. We also know that reusables become cheaper than disposable items after a handful of uses:
12 oz glass cup: cheaper than disposables after just 4 uses
12 oz ceramic mug: cheaper than disposables after just 12 uses
9 in ceramic plate: cheaper than disposables after just 18 uses
Utensil set: cheaper than disposables after just 16 uses
Check out some compelling ReThink Disposable case studies on the cost savings for reusables here.
Customer Satisfaction
When the pandemic began and take-out and delivery orders skyrocketed, everyone really started to take note of the enormous amount of waste generated from packaging in food orders. In today’s climate-conscious world, zero waste matters to people, especially in the Bay Area. When restaurants take it upon themselves to do better, customers notice, and they keep coming back. What’s more, people simply enjoy a meal more when it’s served on real, rather than disposable, foodware.
Environmental Impacts
Single-use foodware consumes valuable resources and generates global pollution both upstream where the materials were extracted to manufacturing, transit, and then finally downstream, where too much waste goes to landfill or litter is disposed of on our streets. And, many foodware items are not really composted or recycled as they are marketed to be.Reusable foodware is the solution and beats fiber and plastic single-use alternatives in every environmental measure. For example:
Replacing disposable cups with reusables can save 16 pounds of solid waste and 281 gallons of water per day
Transitioning to reusables could reduce trash on our city streets by 67%
In just 15 washes, reusable containers beat out disposables for environmental impacts*
Learn more about the ways reusables win out over disposables, environmentally and by every other measure, by viewing Upstream's comprehensive Reuse Wins Report.
*Source: ReThink Disposable
ReThink Disposable
Ready to take action and switch to reusables? ReThink Disposable is here to help!
This Bay Area-based nonprofit offers free technical and financial assistance to help San Francisco food business operators reduce waste and cut costs by minimizing disposable packaging items. Whether you are a caterer, a mobile food vendor, or run a restaurant, café or institutional kitchen, minimizing the use of disposable food ware products can help you reduce costs and waste, improve customers’ dining experience, prevent litter near your business, and so much more.
In addition to 15-25 hours of cost-free hands-on support by ReThink Disposable staff, some businesses may also qualify for up to $300 in rebates toward the purchase of reusable food service ware.
Fill in your information below and click “Submit” to have a representative get in touch with you.
Case Studies
View these real-world cases of Bay Area restaurants that completed ReThink Disposable’s program, resulting in thousands of dollars in savings and thousands of pounds of waste reductions.
What Bay Area Food Service Operators are Saying
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“My customers absolutely love the resuables program. They are all on board.”
Rocco Scordella, Tootsie’s -
“We’re happy that we can contribute to a cleaner city and greener planet. Integrating reusables was also a great business decision.”
Vanick Der Bedrossian, La Méditeranée -
“The free support we received from ReThink Disposable in switching to reusables helped us reduce tons of waste and save a bundle of money.”
Anh Nguyen, Cam Anh
Bay Area Third Party Resources
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Full service off-site dishwashing with nightly pick-up and delivery
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Reusable container service for takeout and delivery
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Full-service dishware solution for dine-in and take-out
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Reusable services for catering and events
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Reusable services for restaurants and events
Help Spread the Word!
Reusables Win in SF Marketing Toolkit
What’s next? Let your followers know about the safety, cost-efficiency, and ease of reusable foodware with the ready-made social media, blog and email materials.
These are freely available for Bay Area-based environmental organizations, government entities, sustainable businesses, food services, or anyone who is interested in encouraging local food service operators to switch to reusables.
Thank you!
Reusables Win in SF is a project of Upstream and presented in Partnership with Golden Gate Restaurant Association. Funding for Reusables Win in SF and ReThink Disposable provided by San Francisco Department of the Environment.
