BUSINESS > RESTAURANT TOOLKITS > REUSABLE CUTLERY

Save Money (and the Planet) with Reusable Cutlery

Ecoshyft
ecoshyft
Feb 14th, 2020 · 10 minute read
OVERVIEW

Transitioning your restaurant to reusable cutlery is truly a no-brainer for the bottom line, your guest experience and the planet. And the best part? It’s likely easier than you think to make the switch. This post will share all the information you’ll need to profitably switch from disposable to reusable utensils. 

Benefits of using reusable cutlery 

Save Money

If you have a small 25 seat restaurant and serve 50 people a day, switching to reusable cutlery could save you $520 a year. That’s a small example, the cost savings only go up from there!

Drive more business

79% of consumers report that they would prefer dining at green restaurant according to a Technomic survey. Your guests are looking to reduce their environmental impact and right now those little wrapped cutlery sets are a deterrent to frequent visits and increase revenue.

Reusable cutlery is a better experience

Do you, personally, like using plastic silverware? Heck no. Plastic cutlery is a terrible guest experience at a restaurant. You can’t cut through anything, it feels flimsy to hold and the wrappers create trash around the dining experience. Switching to reusable cutlery will improve the overall dining experience!

Do the right thing

Almost 100 million plastic utensils are used (and discarded) everyday in the United States. That’s a lot of trash. Small things add up, and responsible business owners like yourself are leading the way to create less plastic waste.

How to switch to reusable cutlery

Transitioning your restaurant to reusable cutlery is truly a no-brainer for the bottom line, your guest experience and the planet. Here are the steps you can take to switch your restaurant to reusable cutlery.

Step One: Buy washable flatware for your restaurant

Here are some great online options for buying washable cutlery:

Reusable utensils can be affordable or extremely high-end. Choose what’s right for your restaurant, clientele and budget. A few additional tips:

    • Don’t buy more utensils than you need. Think about your busiest time of service and how frequently you will wash dishes.
    • To ensure you’re able to take advantage of long-term savings, choose utensils that will last.
    • You can calculate your reusable cutlery ROI / payback period using a simple online calculator found here.
Save money & time by buying FROM A LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR

Local distributors typically have competitive pricing, free delivery and you can look at the various options / pricing in person before committing to a big order. If you have a distributor, put them to work! Ask what options they have available that fit your needs.

If you need help finding the right local restaurant distributor for reusable / sustainable restaurant cutlery and beyond – enter your zip code below and we’d be happy to connect you.

Find trusted reusable flatware distributors in your area This form is currently undergoing maintenance. Please try again later.

Step Two: Make a plan to use what you have

If you have inventory of disposables, you’ll want to make sure that you have a plan to either use those before making the switch or save them for specific applications within your restaurant (i.e. takeout)

Step Three: Adjust internal processes

Figure out whether you’ll need to adjust your dish washing approach / frequency and how you’d like to collect reusables from customers after service (i.e. self serve bus tubs or employees clearing tables). You’ll likely save money and time on emptying trash since you’ll be creating a lot less of it!

Step Four: Make your actions known

We’ve found that when restaurants let their customers know that they’ve made the switch, it has a positive impact on their loyalty and are likely to give positive feedback. The goal is to keep guests coming back more often, right? Here are two ways that you can let your customers know that you’re making some environmentally beneficial updates.

    1. Print a simple sign: Print and hang a sign near your register or front door with words like “We are transitioning away from disposable cutlery in our restaurant to improve guest experience and reduce trash sent to landfill”.
    2. Post on social media: Let your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram audiences know that you’re making the switch to more sustainable restaurant operations with a quick photo of the new silverware and words like “Thanks for all your feedback! We are transitioning away from disposable cutlery in our restaurant to improve guest experience and reduce trash sent to landfill. Come back and see us soon!”