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Parra’s is a traditional Mexican restaurant in the heart of the Fruitvale. Their menu is authentic, and their specialty is their delicious tlayudas oaxaqueñas which the owner, Carlos, encourages everyone to try. The atmosphere is friendly, and everyone is welcome to stop in for a bite or take mole poblano home for the family.

Parra’s was already using reusable foodware for their dine-in guests but were still relying on plastic straws and sauce cups. Replacing them with stainless steel reusable foodware will positively impact the community diverting over 41,000 pieces of harmful disposable plastics annually.

Five local Fruitvale restaurants — Emil’s Burger & Breakfast, Hogar Latino Panaderia Y Restaurant, La Torta Loca, Parra’s, and Powderface — teamed up to reduce single-use disposable waste by over 187,600 individual pieces and over 3,240 pounds annually. After an average payback period of 2.74 months, this group of restaurants will collectively be saving over $10,000 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 the Fruitvale community. Read the full Fruitvale Community Restaurants Case Study here. 

Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:

  • Plastic sauce cups 
  • Plastic straws 

Recommendations Implemented:

  • Stainless steel sauce cups
  • Stainless steel straws
Before & After
Plastic Straw
Metal Straw
Document
Parra's Restaurant
Business Information:

3284 International Blvd
Oakland, CA 94601
United States

The Bottom Line

$694

net annual savings

41,063

disposable items reduced per year

143 lbs

annual waste reduction

You brought some goodness to our restaurant! I tried the stainless-steel straws, and I really enjoy my jamaica drink now!... I am excited that this will help us save money.

-
Carlos Parra, Owner
ReThink Disposable - Stop waste before it starts

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.

Learn More

Related Case Studies

Powderface

Located in Fruitvale Village, Powderface serves the best beignets west of New Orleans, serving both traditional and vegan beignets. Powderface will not only divert over 77,000 single pieces of harmful disposable plastics every year but will also enjoy a $3,000 annual savings.

Hogar Latino Panaderia Y Restaurant

Located in the heart of the Fruitvale on International Boulevard, Hogar Latino Panaderia Y Restaurant serves Honduran and Salvadoran food with an amazing juice bar and, arguably, some of the best tamales in Oakland. After switching to 100% resusable dine-in foodware, they'll be saving $3,120 annually!

La Torta Loca

Located on International Boulevard,you will find La Torta Loca a quaint, mainly take-out restaurant that serves delicious tortas, sopas, and standard Fruitvale fare of burritos and tacos. Since their business is 75% to-go, we only converted 25% of their disposables to reusable, and yet La Torta Loca shows that even small reuse changes can add up and save restaurant owners money.