can I get that to go?
By annemarie on March 2, 2010 | Filed Under eco friendly, guest bloggers
When I heard about the TakeOutWithout Campaign I loved the idea. Then when we had sushi with the grandparents one day and they took their own containers to pickup our take out I was reminded about Take Out Without. I really wanted to write about them but couldn’t find the time. So I asked Lisa Borden, Chief Catalyst of TakeOutWithout to do a guest post about it instead. After all, who can say it better? Still feel a bit silly taking my tiffin to pick up my takeout. But kinda cool too.
We know how busy the schedule of a mum can be, and take-out is a fast and easy option when there just isn’t enough time in the day to pack a meal from home or grab a treat from home. Since restaurants add so much to our waste-line (read waist-line too!) and we frequent them regularly, help your favourite restaurant reduce their waste (so that we will have enough resources so that our grandchildren can take their future kids to visit that restaurant too!).
Here are eight easy things that mums can do that will be great for our health, wallet, the world, and your children’s world (because as we know, mums are always the ones who make the difference!). Don’t worry about taking notes or memorizing the list, you can download free wallet cards and pass them along to everyone.
- Use reusables instead of disposables for everything possible. Yes, people might stare, but remember, you are a trendsetter and it’ll soon catch on – just like reusable water bottles have over the past years. Your child is never too young to teach them the importance of reusing and reducing!
- Encourage others to use compostable, safe options for their required disposables.
- We get that restaurants don’t want to give takeout patrons a cloth napkin, but no need for them to use virgin paper all bleached and processed! Ick!
- Reduce the amount of packaging you take to what is only absolutely necessary. No double bagging please. If you aren’t going to use them, don’t take a handful of ketchup packets, soy sauces, straws or cutlery! Supply and demand. If you are taking your takeout meal home, we’re hoping you have cutlery there?!
- Join www.takeoutwithout.com, the campaign to reduce restaurant waste. It’s free, helpful and will fill you up with some great ideas and free downloads
- Suggest restaurants sell smart & safe solutions (reusables) such as bottles, containers, straws, bags etc. Imagine seeing an amazing container or a glass straw. . .it might inspire you. You may buy one or more. The restaurant will make money while encouraging new habits and creating awareness. If they offer an incentive to keep bringing the container back, you’ll be a more loyal customer. The restaurant will have less of a need for disposables, saving them money, and saving our precious resources. Win, win win! Encourage restaurants to incent their customers to bring/use reusables by offering a discount or something for free (they should be able to afford it – see #5 above).
- Who doesn’t love getting supersized? Wouldn’t you bring your own mug if you were getting more? Or bring your own bag if you were able to get something for free because of it? Applaud people doing good! Change comes from without.
- Tell them how great they are and send customers their way because of all the good they are doing. Encourage other mums to be TOWO champions. They will want to inspire others just like you’ve inspired them!
Our children depend on us in every way. As parents, we can give them all they deserve – and that includes pure food, clear non-toxic information, meaningful love and complete appreciation for all that they are, and the for the planet they live on. Together we can change the outrageous amount of unnecessary waste we create everyday as well as drastically reduce it so your great grandchildren have a beautiful place to live. Your power lies in your wallet and your voice matters. That’s got to be worth trying for!
by Lisa Borden
Lisa Borden is an eco-advocate and mother of three, whose business is a direct reflection of her commitment to better, more responsible living. She is a dedicated workaholic, admitting that it takes a lot of time and effort to change the world, especially in her non-preachy, fun, engaging and inspiring ways. Lisa consults, writes, engages the media, runs private workshops, and enjoys speaking to large and small groups. Her full-service marketing firm, Borden Communications + Design Inc. is based in Toronto, Canada and takes great pride in being an ethical business providing exceptional ideas.
We’d love to hear your Take Out Without Experiences, feel free to share!
This is such a great idea! I never thought of it! I hate wasting plastic for takeouts!!!
We phone order from a sushi restaurant and let them know we will be bringing our own platter … they are happy to oblige and we’re ready to eat as soon as the food is at home. We started this after the first time we ordered and had 4 styrofoam containers to contend with (for 2of us!).