Reusable Foodware System & Service Providers
Does your food business want to offer reusable dishes for dine in but is lacking dishwashing capacity? Or are you interested in offering reusable foodware for take-out but don’t know how to set up a system for that? The organizations listed below may be able to help. All have been vetted by StopWaste through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process (submissions still welcome – click here).
Unsure where to start? StopWaste can help you identify a provider best suited to your needs, free of charge. Contact Ben Duggan at bduggan@stopwaste.org.
Reusable Foodware Systems
A reusable foodware system is typically a turn-key service, where the vendor provides dishware, inventory management, collection and washing of used dishes as well as redistribution of clean foodware for take-out and delivery of prepared food, or a subset of these services. Custom solutions may include part of the service, e.g. dishwashing/sanitizing of foodware provided by a customer or another reusable foodware service, closed loop systems within specific distribution parameters (e.g. meal services), etc. Vendors listed include both business-to-business providers and those serving end consumers directly.
|
Organization |
Currently operating in the Bay Area? |
Services |
Typical clients |
Buoy |
Yes | 100% recycled HDPE containers made in CA with solar power. App-based reusable container service with inventory management and impact reporting. Water stations and reusable cups provided to festivals and film productions. | Restaurants, coffee shops, college campuses, festivals, and movie, TV and commercial productions. |
Dishjoy |
Yes |
Reusable dishware for corporate campuses and offsite dishwashing service for other providers of reusable foodware systems. |
Corporate campuses, institutional dining, ghost kitchens/meal delivery services, special events, and reusable foodware system providers. |
Encora (Green Grub Box) |
Yes | App-based reusable container service, and inventory management software. Dishes and washing for events. | Airports, colleges and corporate campuses, hospitals, restaurants, festivals, stadiums, ghost kitchens. |
FoodWare |
Yes | App-based reusable container service, inventory tracking and impact reporting software. Also offers technical assistance. | Restaurants, corporate and college campuses, caterers, event venues, and institutional dining. |
Friendlier |
No |
App-based reusable container service. Also offers technical assistance. |
Restaurants, prepared meal retailers (e.g. grocery stores), event venues, and schools. |
M'Porte
|
No |
Membership- and App-based reusable container service. Also offers technical assistance. |
Restaurants, grocery and retail stores, and institutions. |
Muuse
|
Yes |
App-based reusable cup & container service. |
Cafes and restaurants, office spaces, campuses, food courts, and events. |
Okapi |
Yes | App-based reusable cup & container network. Also offers technical and marketing assistance. | Cafes and restaurants, office spaces, and college campuses. |
Piikup |
Yes | Distributes food in reusable foodware and collects empty containers in partnership with food vendors. | Caterers, meal delivery services, and nonprofits. |
r.World |
Yes | Reusable cup system for venues and events. They handle the logistics, santizing, deliveries, and quality control. | Music venues, stadiums, and outdoor festivals and events. |
SPARKL
|
Yes |
Reusable foodware supplier and servicer. Reuse tracking technology, database, and hardware provider.
|
Restaurants, corporate offices, institutions, senior meals/bulk meal delivery, events, grocery stores, and community food markets. |
USEFULL |
Yes |
App-based reusable container service, inventory tracking and impact reporting software. Also offers technical assistance. |
Cafes, restaurants, college and corporate campuses, institutional dining. |
Vessel Works
|
No |
Reusable cup service. Also offers technical assistance.
|
Cafes and restaurants. |
WeUse |
Yes |
App-based reusable container service. Also offers technical assistance.
|
Restaurants, institutions, and airports. |
Reusables at Events
Note that in addition to these event-focused organizations, several of the Reusable Foodware Systems providers listed in the previous table may also offer event-based services.
|
Organization |
Currently operating in the Bay Area? |
Service |
Typical clients |
SudBusters |
Yes |
Reusable food ware systems for events. |
Small and large events, music festivals and venues. |
Container Distributors
Note that the vendors listed below do not provide collection and washing logistics.
|
Organization |
Currently operating in the Bay Area? |
Product |
Clients |
ARRRC Pizza Box |
Yes |
Reusable pizza boxes. |
Restaurants, end consumers, and reusable foodware services. |
ECOlunchbox |
Yes |
Food containers for home and commercial use. Also provides technical assistance. |
Restaurants, end consumers, and reusable foodware services. |
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance services may include help with logistics for a given service agreement, outreach to and recruitment of participating food service businesses and/or customers, management of incentive funding, and other support with reusable foodware systems.
|
Organization |
Currently operating in the Bay Area? |
Service |
Clients |
Clean Water Fund, ReThink Disposable |
Yes | Technical assistance for food facilities to switch to reusable foodware. Nonprofit. | Restaurants, corporate campuses, institutions, and end consumers. |
Environmental Innovations |
Yes |
Technical assistance for food facilities to switch to reusable foodware. |
Restaurants, corporate campuses, institutions, and end consumers. |
Plastic Free Future |
Yes | Technical assistance for food facilities to switch to reusable foodware. Helps businesses comply with local ordinances. Nonprofit. | Restaurants, other food vendors, and end consumers. |
Plastic Free Restaurants |
Yes |
This nonprofit subsidizes the purchase of reusable foodware with private donations and provides technical assistance. |
Restaurants and schools. |
Race to Zero Waste |
Yes | Technical assistance to institutions, schools, and restaurants to switch to reusable foodware. Also provides refillable water stations and systems for reusable cups and water bottles at events. Nonprofit. | Institutions, schools, restaurants, and community events. |