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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

buoy.eco

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 

www.dishjoy.com

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) 

www.encora.co

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

www.foodwaretogo.com

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 

www.friendlier.ca

No 

App-based reusable container service. Also offers technical assistance. 

Restaurants, prepared meal retailers (e.g. grocery stores), event venues, and schools. 

M'Porte 

www.mporteco.com

 

No 

Membership- and App-based reusable container service. Also offers technical assistance. 

Restaurants, grocery and retail stores, and institutions.  

Muuse 

www.muuse.io

 

Yes 

App-based reusable cup & container service.  

Cafes and restaurants, office spaces, campuses, food courts, and events. 

Okapi

www.okapi-reusables.com

Yes App-based reusable cup & container network. Also offers technical and marketing assistance.  Cafes and restaurants, office spaces, and college campuses.

Piikup

www.piikup.com

Yes Distributes food in reusable foodware and collects empty containers in partnership with food vendors.  Caterers, meal delivery services, and nonprofits. 

r.World 

www.rworldreuse.com

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 

www.sparklreusables.com

 

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 

www.usefull.us

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 

www.vesselworks.org

 

No

Reusable cup service. Also offers technical assistance. 

 

Cafes and restaurants. 

WeUse 

www.weuse.eco

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 

www.sudbusters.com

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 

www.arrrc.com

Yes 

 Reusable pizza boxes. 

Restaurants, end consumers, and reusable foodware services. 

ECOlunchbox 

www.ecolunchboxes.com

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 

www.rethinkdisposable.org

Yes Technical assistance for food facilities to switch to reusable foodware. Nonprofit. Restaurants, corporate campuses, institutions, and end consumers.

Environmental Innovations 

www.environmentalin.com

Yes 

Technical assistance for food facilities to switch to reusable foodware. 

Restaurants, corporate campuses, institutions, and end consumers. 

Plastic Free Future 

www.plastic-free-future.org

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 

www.plasticfreerestaurants.org 

Yes 

This nonprofit subsidizes the purchase of reusable foodware with private donations and provides technical assistance. 

Restaurants and schools.  

Race to Zero Waste 

www.racetozerowaste.org

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.

 

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