Forever Ware is on a Mission to Reduce Restaurant Waste
Article response by Natasha Gaffer, Forever Ware CEO
Twin Cities Business Magazine article, photo by Forever Ware
Read the article here: ForeverWare is on a Mission to Reduce Restaurant Waste
Is sustainability good for business? The team behind Minneapolis-based Forever Ware believes so, and it’s preaching the perks of reusable takeout containers to businesses in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Reusable takeout containers would undoubtedly reduce thousands of tons of waste, but they could also save business owners money, Gaffer says. She relates the story of Spoken Cafe in Chicago, which opted to replace all of its cups with Forever Ware. The owner of that business expects to save about $9,000 a year on cups, she says. Natasha Gaffer, Forever Ware CEO
Our partners can save upwards of 80% on their packaging costs when they switch to reusable packaging programs that are powered by Forever Ware. I'll explain it. Disposable hot cups that are used to serve coffee and other takeout beverages typically cost 16 to 36-cents per unit or more on average. Don't forget to factor in lids, straw, and sleeves. Forever Ware charges 5-cents per use for reusable mugs which is a 69-87% reduction in packaging costs. If you want to learn more, check out our cost savings calculator.
The article also mentions that "Forever Ware sells reusable cups and food containers to coffee shops and restaurants" but I should clarify that we don't sell them, we essentially lease them for the small 5-cent usage fee that I mentioned above. The usage fee is charged monthly for each reuse and this is part of what makes the program affordable.
Because Forever Ware can order large quantities of reusable packaging to meet minimim order size requirement, Forever Ware has access to lower prices for high quality reusable packaging which would otherwise be inaccessible to small and mid-size businesses. As the fleet of reusable packaging gets worn out over hundreds, even thousands of uses, usage fees paid to Forever Ware by merchants are used to maintain the fleet by repairing and recycling containers so that participating owners can stay focused on their businesses.
Gaffer likens the model to checking out a book at a library. “Our distributed asset tracking network is what makes that possible. All the customers go into one database, and they can use those products at any business in the network." Natasha Gaffer, Forever Ware CEO
Forever Ware's technology is the key to making reuse easy and feasible. For example, when containers can circulate between businesses in a community, those communities require smaller fleets of reusable packaging, which results in lower carbon emissions from manufacturing of the packaging. Consumers benefit because they don't have to return the containers to the same restaurant where they picked them up or store the containers until their next visit. Instead, they return them to any business in the Forever Ware network next time they order.
Forever Ware differentiates itself from competitors by making it easier for customers to use its products. Consumers don’t need to install a separate app to use Forever Ware, for instance. Nolan Singroy, Forever Ware CHO
Most reuse programs require consumers to download an app to participate which means that you, as the business owner, can only offer reusables to consumers that choose to download the app. With Forever Ware, you can choose to switch entirely to reusable packaging, overnight if you wish, to recognize the 80% cost savings that we mentioned above because you don't have to rely on consumers downloading an app. We give food service businesses the power to choose what type of packaging they want to offer and make the experience for consumers incredibly easy.
In Minnesota, businesses will soon have to adopt some big changes in the wake of new legislation. In June, Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill that bans the use of PFAS—aka “forever chemicals”—in several types of food packaging starting Jan. 1, 2024. “That will force businesses to look for alternative solutions.” Nolan Singroy, Forever Ware CHO
Here are some articles that can elaborate on this topic:
- Minnesota prohibits PFAS in food packaging, effective January 1, 2024 - June 25, 2021 the governor of the US state of Minnesota signed SF 20 into law to prohibit perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging.
- Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging - March 24, 2022 “‘forever chemicals,’ can be found not only in nonstick pans and waterproof gear but also in the grease-resistant packaging that holds your food from takeout chains and supermarkets.”
- Revealed: US water likely contains more 'forever chemicals' than EPA tests show - July 6, 2022
- Microplastics found in human blood for the first time - March 25, 2022 “Researchers targeted five common plastics including [those] used in bottles and food packaging…” “...human exposure to plastic particles results in absorption of particles into the bloodstream”
- White House National PFAS Plan