Big Bowl, the casual-meets-creative Asian stir fry mini-chain with four local locations, has further pioneered its eco initiatives (think: a ban on bottled water, championing the use of local, seasonal ingredients) with the introduction of servers' uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles as well as new take-out packaging made from 100 percent recycled paper.
In an ongoing quest to become more sustainable and earth-friendly in its operations, Big Bowl first outfitted employees in uniforms made from bamboo, which proved to not be durable enough for the day-to-day rigors of the restaurant biz. Next up was organic cotton, but the lure of saving countless plastic bottles from landfills ultimately won out. The soft, strong material is made from post-consumer use plastic, which is first processed into flakes then into filaments that are spun into yarn and woven into fabric. Another bonus: The clothing, which is made by Florida-based Superior Uniform Group, doesn't have to be professionally dry-cleaned, thus preserving more chemicals from the environment and saving employees money.
Big Bowl has also replaced its old plastic take-out containers with cardboard-esque packaging made from 100 percent recycled paper, 33 percent of which is post-consumer use.
