With the help of our ReThink Disposable Zero Waste Specialists, La Enramada is eliminating 4,840 pounds (the weight of three grand pianos!) from the waste stream, and the business is saving $15,427 annually that can be reinvested into other upgrades to the space. We can see that they were able to cut their disposable usage by 82% and totally eliminate disposable usage for dine-in service, now only utilizing single-use for take-out.
With generous support from Silicon Valley Community Foundation, our team has taken ReThink Disposable to San Jose. We teamed up with three restaurants in the San Jose community — Korean Palace, La Enramada, and Thai Chili — to reduce single-use disposable waste by over 381,376 individual pieces and over 5,695 pounds annually. After the conversions to resuable items, this group of restaurants will collectively be saving over $17,000 every year by purchasing fewer disposables — dramatically reducing plastic pollution in their operations, and providing real-time examples of businesses that are both eco-friendly and economical in San Jose.
Business Profile:
La Enramada Restaurant y Taqueria is a community favorite in San Jose, California. The locals enjoy Brazilian caldo de pollo and authentic enchiladas Michoacanas along with delectable fish dishes. The restaurant utilizes a three-sink system and has seamlessly incorporated their new reusable foodware into their dishwashing duties.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Plastic fork
- Plastic knife
- Plastic spoon
- Plastic sauce cup
- 24 oz. paper cold cup
- 32 oz. paper cold cup
- Paper hot cup
- Coffee cup sleeve
- Plastic straw (paper-wrapped)
Recommendations Implemented:
- Stainless steel fork
- Stainless steel knife
- Stainless steel spoon
- Stainless steel sauce cup
- 24 oz. tumbler
- 32 oz. tumbler
- Porcelain mug and saucer
- Glass straw
1635 McKee Rd
San Jose, CA 95116
United States
The Bottom Line
La Enramada's conversion will save the restaurant over $15,000 annually and means that 360,834 pieces of trash are no longer being thrown away every year.
360,834
$15,426
0.4 months
We stopped using all that plastic and paper—utensils, cups, straws—and switched to stainless steel, glass, and ceramic; it feels good, it looks better, and our customers notice the difference. For us, it’s about respect for the food and the planet.
Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging
ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.