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Koreana Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
Koreana, a restaurant known for its traditional Korean cuisine in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, was already using many reusable foodware options for dine-in customers. Through their partnership with ReThink Disposable, Koreana identified further opportunities to reduce their reliance on single-use disposable items. These changes have not only been popular among customers but have also yielded substantial economic benefits, saving an estimated $3,109 annually and preventing 90,669 pieces of single-use disposable foodware from entering landfills, equivalent to 758 pounds per year.
The transition to stainless steel chopsticks, although initially challenging for some customers, has been met with enthusiasm as diners mastered the skill, and the use of ceramic bowls for dishes like cup-bap has enhanced the meal’s popularity. In fact, the ceramic bowls have garnered such praise that customers have inquired about purchasing them for their own homes, highlighting Koreana’s role in promoting sustainability while satisfying local appetites.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Single-use plastic lined paper bowls
- Single-use wooden chopsticks
- Single-use plastic lined paper coffee cups
Recommendations Implemented:
- Ceramic bowls
- Stainless steel chopsticks
- Ceramic mugs
Before & After
Business Information:
37 S 19th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
United States
Document
The Bottom Line
Small changes in foodware dramatically changed the presentation of Koreana’s most popular meals. Customers are learning to use stainless steel chopsticks and after a 3.8 month pay-back period cost benefits are being seen with no payroll increases.
$3,109
annual net cost savings
90,669
disposable items reduced per year
758 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.
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.
The Warfield, San Francisco
The Warfield, originally built in the 1920s, was a vaudeville and movie palace and became a 2,250-person capacity concert hall in 1979 when Bill Graham Presents booked a run of shows with Bob Dylan. The Warfield made the switch from single-use plastic and paper cups to exclusively using reusable r.Cups, available in various sizes (5, 9, 12, 16, and 24-ounce sizes).
Business Profile:
During a 6-month service period with r.Cup, spanning from May to October, The Warfield incurred a cost of $25,800 for r.Cup services. To offset this cost, The Warfield implemented a 3 percent sustainability fee for each drink sold in an r.Cup, resulting in revenue of more than $30,000 since the launch of r.Cup in May 2023. This revenue has the potential to turn r.Cup into a profit center for any venue.
Taking into account r.Cup services, income from the sustainability fee, and elimination of purchasing single-use disposable cups, The Warfield anticipates annual net-earnings of more than $33,000 that will go towards sustaining the reusable cup service into the future.
Read more about The Warfield in San Francisco Music Venues Raise the Bar for Sustainability: Case study on a reusable cup pilot at three San Francisco venues.
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
982 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States
The Bottom Line
204,800
Single-Use Cups Eliminated Annually
93%
Return Rate
12,700
Pounds Of Refuse Diverted Annually
Things have gone wonderfully and we can’t be happier to be part of the initiative.
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 Plunkett
Emily first joined Clean Water Action in 2023 as the Office Manager in Ann Arbor, MI then moved to the National Communications team in 2024. Before Clean Water, she received her Master's degree in chemistry with a focus on analytical methods and materials science research. Emily has also volunteered with the Virginia Scientist-Community Interface, co-authoring academic papers, public comments, and technical white papers. Emily has a passion for native plants and sci-fi/fantasy media, and an even stronger passion for her cat, Sharkey.
