Choose to reuse: A guide to switching to reusable serviceware

Why choose reusable serviceware?

Restaurants and grocery stores that make the switch to reusables can reduce their purchasing and garbage costs, saving money every month.

Switching to reusable serviceware can enhance your image, demonstrate your commitment to being environmentally friendly, and offer a better customer experience.

Reusable serviceware saves money - after switching to reusable mugs, cups, plates and cutlery, a coffee shop saw a savings of over $6,800 per year.

Reusable serviceware makes happier customers - in a recent survey, 82% of customers liked the idea of reusable cups, and 59% cited environmental benefits - proving that reusables drive loyalty.

Bring your own

Bring your own: A new way to cut waste and costs

Thanks to a new Oregon law, customers can now bring their own containers to participating restaurants, food carts, grocery stores and other retail food establishments when purchasing food, grabbing to-go orders or packing up leftovers. Encouraging customers to bring their own containers saves you money, reduces waste, and makes sustainability-minded customers happy.

Using resuable serviceware means less waste - last year, 41% of Portland’s Nossa Familia Coffee customers brought their own cups or dined in, keeping 52,364 single-use cups out of landfills.

Help customers Bring Their Own

Having customers bring their own containers, also known as BYO, isn’t just good for your bottom line, it also makes it easy for customers to help reduce waste, support your business, and feel good about their everyday choices.

How it works:

Display the BYO sign to let customers know you accept reusable containers.
Customers bring their clean, reusable cups or containers.
Customers or your team fills them.
They enjoy their food or drink - without the waste.

Polystyrene ban

Polystyrene ban: Foam-free is the way to-go

Oregon recently banned food businesses from using polystyrene foam - commonly known as Styrofoam - food and drink containers. Polystyrene foam is banned because it creates litter, ends up in rivers and oceans, and harms wildlife. Food containers with PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are also prohibited due to health concerns.

What this means for your business

If you currently use polystyrene foam containers, now is the time to:

Encourage your customers to bring their own containers.
Switch from single-use items to reusable serviceware.
Replace polystyrene foam containers with other to-go containers.

Learn more about Senate Bill 543 banning polystyrene

How to choose a sustainable to-go alternative

If you need to replace foam to-go containers and want a more sustainable option:

Choose products made from recycled materials - the higher the recycled content, the better.
Be cautious of green marketing claims on certain products. Those marked “compostable” and “biodegradable” often cost more and are not allowed in Oregon’s composting systems and should be thrown in the trash.
Products marked “recyclable” aren’t always recyclable locally. Check with your garbage hauler if you are unsure.

Bring your own

Polystyrene ban

Learn more

Contact