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Green Procurement
Most of us don't think much about the impact of our purchases on the marketplace but when we make conscious choices to purchase furniture without toxic chemical flame retardants, cookware without harmful perflourinated chemicals or children's products without bisphenol A, we're sending a message to retailers that we want safe products and they pay attention. Our Mind the Store campaign has made a huge impact with the world's largest retailers and succeeded in getting Walmart, Target, CVS, Home Depot and Lowe's to work with their suppliers and shift away from some of the most harmful chemicals
Minnesota 2023 PFAS Prevention Package: Amara's Law
In 2023, Minnesota passed the strongest PFAS prevention legislation in the country. The legislation was named Amara's Law after Amara Strande, a young woman who grew up in an area contaminated by PFAS and diagnosed with an exceedingly rare form of cancer. Amara advocated and testified in support of the bills banning all non-essential use of PFAS chemicals, requiring manufacturers who are selling products in Minnesota to disclose if PFAS chemicals are present, and to close a loophole in the 2019 bill that ended the use of PFAS in firefighting foam.
Interfaith Neighbors Meals on Wheels Monmouth County | Video
As a result of working with ReThink Disposable, Interfaith Neighbors has eliminated distributing fruit cups, as well as individually wrapped desserts, and is now providing clients with fresh fruit. This practice also reduces the number of paper bags used for delivery. The changes are a healthier alternative for both the client and environment and saves essential funds that can be used to better serve their client.
Business Profile:
Founded in 1988, Interfaith Neighbors has been assisting the most vulnerable in Monmouth County, New Jersey in securing life’s critical necessities, while working to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and their communities. Interfaith Neighbors provides multiple services, including daily meals through their Meals on Wheels programs.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
Prior to working with ReThink Disposable, the organization has been providing a fruit cup in small single-use containers and monthly spent thousands of dollars ordering products.
Recommendations Implemented:
Interfaith Neighbors replaced their daily 4-ounce fruit cocktail containers and plastic-wrapped individual desserts for fresh fruit. Staff are pleased with providing healthier food to their clients and clients have expressed their delight at getting fresh fruit.
There was a $0 upfront cost for these new zero-waste practices.
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
810 4th Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
United States
The Bottom Line
$72,000
Total annual cost savings
986,960
Disposable items reduced each year
8,702 lbs
Annual waste reduction
My eyes were made wide open. We replaced a plastic fruit cup, mainly sugar, with a fresh piece of fruit. We took sugary desserts out of our meals as well. Many are diabetic so this is a cost savings as well as a much more nutritious alternative.
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.
Interfaith Neighbors Senior Center Program
As a result of working with ReThink Disposable, Interfaith Neighbors is now serving their clients with more dignity, as they provide a hot meal at all six Senior Centers on reusable foodware. They have eliminated the distribution of plastic single-use disposable fruit cups and individually wrapped desserts. Currently, they provide clients with fresh fruit. This is a healthier alternative for both the client and environment. Through their partnership with ReThink Disposable, Interfaith Neighbors is saving valuable funds that can be used to better serve their clients.
Business Profile:
Founded in 1988, Interfaith Neighbors in Monmouth County, New Jersey has been securing life’s critical necessities for the most vulnerable while improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and their communities. Interfaith Neighbors provides multiple services, including daily dine-in meals through their six senior nutrition programs.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
Prior to working with ReThink Disposable, the organization had been serving clients on exclusively single-use disposable foodware. They also had been providing fruit cocktail in disposable individual portion cups. They were spending thousands of dollars each month, ordering these items that eventually went into the waste stream.
Recommendations Implemented:
Single-use plastic fruit cups with foil lids were replaced with fresh fruit. Bowls and plates were replaced with reusable alternatives, paper cups were replaced with glass mugs and reusable cups, and single-use plastic cutlery was replaced with steel cutlery. The initial investment on new foodware was $2,910, and Interfaith Neighbors eliminated 100% of their single-use disposable foodware.
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
810 4th Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
United States
The Bottom Line
$37,113
Total annual net cost savings
326,000
Disposable items reduced each year
5,155 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.
Emily Ranson
Emily grew up in Maryland, where she cultivated fond memories of playing in the streams and rivers in central Maryland. She received her master of science from Cornell University studying conflict resolution and community-based natural resource management. Emily cut her advocacy teeth with Bike Maryland, working with state and local governments, businesses, and community activists throughout the state to promote a Bike Friendly Maryland. As the Maryland Program Director, Emily heads our legislative work in Annapolis and works on the local level for policies and practices that protect our