Hotel Suppliers reporter interviews Repurpose to learn more about their revolutionary compostable tableware for hotels.
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Can you elaborate on the specific benefits of using eucalyptus, sugarcane pulp, and wood as theprimary upcycled materials in your compostable tableware products?
These are pulps commonly left over after the industrial processes of making sugar, wood products, and paper. Historically, they have been burned or sent to landfills, but we give the pulp one last life as we make it into the materials that make our plates and bowls. This practice diverts materials from landfills and incineration.
Repurpose emphasizes a commitment to a circular economy. Could you explain how your products are designed to foster this concept?
Our whole product line is compostable and can enrich the soil once again to grow new plants, when disposed of properly. And because everything is plant based, the cycle can go round and round.
The company prides itself on being non-toxic and free from PFAS, BPA, and other common household toxins. Could you share more details about the testing and certification process your products undergo to ensure they meet these stringent standards?
We are a mission based company, so we work tirelessly to ensure our whole product line is sustainable and non-toxic. In a world where greenwashing has become all too common, we want our products to give people the utmost confidence in our claims by working with the highest standards and testing. We disclose our USDA biobased percentages, which clarifies that our products are plant, rather than petroleum based. We also work closely with BPI, the current compostability certifier with the most stringent testing for residual chemicals after the products break down. They test to verify the cups, plates, etc. actually break down under certain conditions and do not leave any trace of toxic PFAS or other toxins. Just because something breaks down – doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a toxic load. As they say, we want to ensure our items are clean, cradle to cradle.
How does Repurpose assess and minimize its carbon footprint in the production and distribution of its sustainable hotel tableware?
Manufacturing with plants rather than petroleum uses up to 80% less CO2 in just the manufacturing process, but that is not enough for us! We are also moving to plastic-free packaging for our product line. Lastly, we are actively on-shoring all of our production to completely eliminate the CO2 involved with ocean freight, while supporting manufacturing closer to home too.
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Considering the growing concern about waste, especially single-use plastics, how doesRepurpose encourage or assist its customers in responsibly disposing of the plant-based dinnerware after use?
The ideal place for Repurpose items to end up is in a compost, which often means different city and municipality green bins. It could also mean your own backyard compost, or a household composter, like our favorite – the Lomi. Some of our items are even paper recyclable, like our new super cute H2bi0 paper cups! If these are not available options, we still take comfort in knowing that if our items end up in landfills, they will not break down into harmful microplastics or leach toxic chemicals into our water and soil systems. Even what goes into your trash matters!
Innovation seems central to Repurpose’s ethos. Can you discuss any ongoing research or development efforts aimed at enhancing the sustainability, functionality, or range of products in your plant-based dinnerware line?
We never rest. We believe in progress, not perfection, so any day that we have an opportunity to make our items better for people and the planet while staying in an accessible price range, we’ll do it. We’ve already extended into trash bags and household paper items like (the softest!) toilet paper and paper towels. If there’s an everyday item that needs a sustainable makeover, we’re here for that.
To learn more about Repurpose and their plant-based dinner-ware for hotels, visit their supplier profile here.
