In an effort to reduce waste and support sustainability, multiple co-ops have initiated reusable silverware programs. Among these co-ops are Weaver Street Market, Hillsborough, N.C., and BriarPatch Food Co-op, Green Valley, Calif.
For Weaver Street, the idea began with a government program called “Fork It Over,” that loaned out metal silverware for events, such as weddings and reunions, reducing the need to purchase disposable cutlery.
“Some of our staff were wondering if Weaver could offer real silverware for takeout, too, and in researching other NCG co-ops’ sustainability efforts, we came across Moscow Food Co-op’s Sustainable Silverware program,” Willow Dees, Weaver Street’s sustainability team rep says. “Moscow’s successful program gave us the confidence to move ahead, and we rolled ours out on March 1, 2023.”
Dees says that customer response has been largely positive, and shoppers are often surprised and even delighted when they learn they can use real metal flatware.
“The key for us has been emphasizing that it is okay if you can’t bring that fork back,” says Dees. “People are busy; they don’t know if they’ll remember to bring it back ― and we have many customers who are just passing through town.”
Dees says that, having four stores each operating differently in terms of food bar business, they’ve learned a lot about what factors allow savings and what conditions are adverse to a reusable silverware program.
“We emphasize that we know we’ll lose some utensils ― but we really want to get rid of disposables, one step at time ― and that clicks with people,” Dees says. “In our first year using silverware, we ended up saving over a $1,000 a month, versus our disposable costs for 2022. The public doesn’t realize how expensive disposable cutlery is. They think because it’s free and everywhere that it’s also cheap.”
Dees says she believes that co-ops can work together to eventually make disposable utensils obsolete and inspire other businesses in their communities to switch to silver.
Taking inspiration from Weaver Street, BriarPatch Food Co-op launched its reusable silverware program relatively recently, in April 2024. And while it’s too early to determine what the cost savings may be, the response from shoppers has been positive.
“Shoppers are absolutely thrilled about this new program,” says Rebecca Torpie, BriarPatch’s director of marketing. “We started the program on April 1 (and yes, a few people did think it was an April Fool’s joke) and did a hard cutover to the washable flatware. There was a very short learning curve at first, but once people understood the concept, they loved it.”
