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Jean's Cafe, Philadelphia
Jean’s Cafe, located in Center City Philadelphia, is setting a new standard by coupling sustainability and the fast-paced take-away culture so beloved in our east coast delis. Known for its diverse menu and welcoming atmosphere, the high-traffic cafe rings up over 500 transactions daily. By transitioning from 100% disposable foodware for dine-in to using exclusively reusable wares, Jean’s Cafe is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also realizing significant financial savings. Annually, they anticipate saving $2,063 even after factoring in water costs and labor for washing dishes. Their switch is projected to eliminate 326,898 pieces of single use disposable foodware, equating to 5,183 pounds of waste diverted from landfills, annually. Customers have responded positively to these changes, appreciating both the environmental initiative and the enhanced dining experience at Jean’s Cafe.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Single-use paper plates
- Single-use foam plates
- Single-use plastic cold cups with lids
- Single-use plastic lined paper coffee cups with plastic lids
- Single-use foam bowls with plastic lids
- Single-use plastic forks
- Single-use plastic knifes
- Single-use plastic spoons
- Single-use plastic sauce cups with lids
Recommendations Implemented:
- Ceramic plates
- Durable plastic baskets
- Durable plastic cups
- Ceramic mugs
- Ceramic bowls
- Stainless steel forks
- Stainless steel knives
- Stainless steel spoons
- Stainless steel sauce cups
Before & After
Document
PA ReThinkDisposableCaseStudy_JeansCafe.1.pdf
(486.92 KB)
Business Information:
1334 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
United States
The Bottom Line
Jean’s Cafe switched 100% of their disposable foodware to reusable for their dine-in guests, with a 1 month average pay-back period. They did not need to hire new staff, instead offered 2.5 more hours daily for current employees. The annual cost savings accounts for increase in labor and water costs of $12,000.
$2,063
annual net cost savings
326,898
disposable items reduced per year
5,183 lbs
annual waste reduction
Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging
ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.
Field Canvass Internship | Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania
Calling all change-makers and aspiring advocates! Clean Water Action is now accepting applications for its summer 2024 internship program. Gain hands-on experience in the realms of politics, communications, and advocacy, while working alongside our dedicated professional outreach team. As an intern, you'll actively engage the public, igniting their passion for critical national and state campaigns to protect clean water, combat climate change, expose the impacts of oil and gas production, and discover safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.
Chris Bathurst
Chris started field canvassing for West Virginia Citizens Action Group in Morgantown WVA in 1984. He has been with Clean Water since 1985. Over those years he has worked on a multitude of issue and electoral campaigns in 12 states. Chris currently lives in Conway MA where you can often find him fly fishing on his favorite rivers and streams.
Lynn Thorp
Lynn oversees the organization’s national work on water, global warming and energy and chemical policy. She is particularly involved in drinking water issues, and has served two terms of the National Drinking Water Advisory Committee which advises the US Environmental Protection Agency on drinking water policy. Lynn has also served on a number of other Federal Advisory Committees and other bodies working on drinking water regulation.
Before coming to Clean Water in 1999, Lynn worked at Greenpeace for 9 years with an emphasis on toxics and health issues. She began work in the advocacy community
Jennifer Kunze
Jennifer is a lifelong Maryland resident who grew up next to the Catoctin Mountains in Frederick, graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland on the beautiful St. Mary's River, and now lives in Baltimore City. Before joining Clean Water Action in 2016, Jennifer worked as the Environmental Programs Organizer at the Center for Grace-Full Living in East Baltimore, where she coordinated community gardens, taught environmental education, and organized rain garden and other stormwater remediation projects. Jennifer has also been active in a wide variety of environmental and human rights campaigns