4 Reasons to Reduce Your Forkprint with To-Go Ware

To-Go Ware is officially sweet 16 this year! Since 2004, this beloved brand has helped humanity find alternatives to disposable forks, knives, spoons, and carry-out containers. ChicoBag acquired To-Go Ware in 2016 to further help humanity bag the single-use habit. Together, we’ve saved an estimated 22.6 BILLION single-use items from entering the wastestream.

In our journey to #effsingleuse, we discovered the convenience of our "to-go" culture, while helpful in many ways, makes it easy to normalize disposable cutlery and containers and turn a blind eye to the damage it causes our planet. But we’re on a mission to change that! 

Here are four reasons To-Go Ware is a smart choice in protecting our planet. 

1. If you ate one takeout meal a day for a year and a half, you’d throw away 1300 single-use forks, knives, and spoons.

That’s at least 433 takeout meals. One set of reusable To-Go Ware Utensils can replace all of them. We havekids and adultoptions so everybody in the drive-through line can say “skip the fork, please.”

2. Bamboo is free from petroleum, is biodegradable, and self-generating.

Just because an item is reusable, it doesn’t always mean it’s the best for the planet. We choose to use bamboo for our utensil sets because it’s a natural, biodegradable and self-regenerating material. After harvesting, it grows new shoots from its extensive root system. We love bamboo because it provides a long-lasting, non-petroleum based alternative to plastic waste.

3. Our utensil holders are made from Repreve fabric, which is reformulated from recycled water bottles.

Say what? First, bamboo, now recycled carriers? Are these Utensil sets pretty much just the most eco-friendly alternative out there?

Yep.

4. It takes about 500 years for Styrofoam to decompose.

And recycling options are limited. Bet you’re rethinking a burger box now. Our Tiffins and Sidekick Containers are all made of food-safe, dishwasher-safe stainless steel. Bonus: stainless steel is 100% recyclable. In fact, it’s the most recycled material on the planet, with no loss in quality once it’s made into another product.

With To-Go Ware, we have an easy way to make our culture’s "throw-away" mentality a thing of the past. Grab a few sets for yourself, tell all your friends and coworkers, and help usmake reusable convenient again.

Sidebar: How to Take To-Go Ware to a Restaurant

Scenario:Your fam has reservations for outdoor seating at a local restaurant — and the business is only offering disposable cutlery. 

Solution:Ask everybody to pack their To-Go Ware utensil sets. Before you’re seated, let the staff know you’ve brought your own forks and knives so they won’t place any at your table—and ultimately get thrown away.

Scenario:You’re at a restaurant with your friends, and you’re too stuffed to finish your meal.

Solution:Instead of asking for a doggie bag, ask the server to place your leftovers in the Tiffin you packed in your bag.

Scenario:You’ve popped into an eatery to order a takeaway lunch.

Solution:Instead of a sandwich or salad stuffed into styrofoam, ask them to place the meal in your Sidekick or Tiffin. Be sure to skip the disposable silverware.

Scenario:You and your S.O. called in an order to your fav local restaurant.

Solution:Ditch the delivery fee and pick it up yourself. When you call, ask if they’ll wait to pack things up until you bring in your reusable container. Bonus points if you can bundle your Tiffins in your ChicoBag.

* We realize some of these scenarios aren’t feasible with COVID-19 restrictions right now. Either call ahead to your local restaurants or bookmark these tips until later!