Why reuse? Reusable foodware systems offer
a range of environmental, economic, and
aesthetic benefits over single-use.
Single-use disposable items are costly to human health, governments, and the environment
Between 400,000 and 1 million people die each year in low- and middle-income countries because of diseases related to mismanaged waste
Use of plastic products leads to ingestion and/or inhalation of large amounts of both microplastic particles and hundreds of toxic substances with carcinogenic, developmental, or endocrine disrupting impacts
Litter cleanup across the US is estimated to cost $11.5B per year. Businesses pay $9.1B. Governments, schools and others pay the rest
More than 29 million metric tons of plastic enters the environment each year, where it harms animals and damages habitats
Reuse saves governments money, drives economic growth, and creates local jobs
New York City’s plan to reduce the amount that it sends to landfill by 90% by 2030 would save the city an estimated $310 million per year
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that converting 20% of global disposable plastic packaging into reusable packaging is a $10 billion opportunity
Recycling and reuse creates between 9 and 30 times more jobs than landfills and incinerators
Photo credit: Eco Life - Biking as Sustainable Transportation (https://www.ecolife.zone/biking/)
Reuse is a climate strategy
Reuse can save 2% of the remaining carbon budget
Reusables have a 50% savings in GHG emissions over single-use plastic bottles
The production of the plastic foodware items used in the United States is estimated to contribute 1.3 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually, while the paper items require an estimated 3.4 million trees each year
The $19B that foodservice businesses spend to purchase them supports the continued development and processing of petrochemicals as well as the harvesting of trees for low-value, single-use products