REUSABLES & ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE DISPOSABLES
KEY FACTS
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By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
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1,500 plastic water bottles are used every second in the United States.
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The world uses 500 billion plastic cups every year.
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Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste, amounting to 77.9 million tons.
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The product that takes up the most landfill space is paper, accounting for more than 40% of waste.
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
Products such as napkins and paper towels are often bleached with chlorine, which is harmful to the environment. Look for products that are processed chlorine free or “recycled kraft.” Processed chlorine free means that the recycled paper is whitened without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Recycled kraft means it comes from brown cardboard paper that is recycled back into a brown item, with no need for bleaching.
Polystyrene foam (aka Styrofoam™) is made of petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource. The foam is not biodegradable and is one of the top waste products found on the beach.
REUSABLE OPTIONS
Coasters
Pan Liners
Coffee Filters
Dishware
RESTAURANT CASE STUDY:
REUSABLES
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Use reusables whenever possible
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If you must use disposables, purchase products with a high amount of post-consumer waste that are not chemically bleached
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Find Certified Green Products Here
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Check out our Reusables & Environmentally Preferable Disposables Standards to learn more.
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Dine at a Certified Green Restaurant®
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Encourage your favorite restaurant to become a Certified Green Restaurant®
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Bring your own reusable items to restaurants (such as mugs, bags, and take-out containers)
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Encourage your local restaurants to purchase reusables or environmentally preferable disposable products