Local Social Entrepreneur Essay

Jacky Leung
Professor Sabir
English 201B, MW 1-2:50
6 May 2009

Stephanie Bernstein: Founder of To-Go Ware

A social entrepreneur is a person who uses creative business practice to start a social services organization. There is a problem in our community. Plastic are not being recycled properly. Our local Social Entrepreneur, Stephanie Bernstein has an solution to this problem. She is currently residing in Berkeley, California. Bernstein is a certified yoga instructor since 2001 and was a chef for many years. She is also the founder of To-Go Ware and Eyes of the Forest, Inc. in 2004. To-Go Ware is a company in Berkeley that makes re-usable food and beverage containers and other products. They make utensil holders made from recycled plastic bags to stainless steel “tiffins.” Plastic are not being recycled properly and they’re going in our landfills and oceans. Bernstein’s vision was to reduce plastic disposable containers and utensils such as plastic forks, spoons, plates, cups, and containers by selling re-usable products. By doing so, we can create an more eco friendly environment.
During Bernstein’s college years at University of Michigan, getting food services to go was very common. When Stephanie and her sister were having ice cream at a local ice cream shop, she found it very disturbing that she had gotten a plastic container and a plastic spoon with her ice cream when she requested it for here. It was expected that she would throw the plastic utensil in the trash, but it was not being recycled properly. This motivated her to make a change in society. Bernstein was inspired by people that were using reusable items such as coffee mugs and lunch containers. She then started to envision ways to promote these products and tools to learn which designs would function well. Bernstein spent years informing development of To-Go Ware in Natural Products industries, food services and wellness fields.
Bernstein got many supporters from the community. The food industry was a big supporter in this ecological matter. Many company in the food industry especially fast food restaurants in Berkeley are using biodegradable plastic utensils. Biodegradable plastics are plastics that will decompose in the natural environment. Although To-Go Ware does not sell biodegradable products, they sell reusable bamboo utensils. They encourage local businesses to buy them wholesale for restaurant use. To-Go Ware recently partnered with “CONSERVE” which currently makes the company’s utensil wraps. CONSERVE is a recycling and waste management that is not associated with the government located in East Delhi. If To-Go Ware sells as many CONSERVE wraps as they project for this year, it would take nearly one million plastic bags from the landfill.
The community gains a eco friendly environment in this recycling process. People do not realize how much plastic forks, spoon and knifes we toss away each week by getting food to go. We can reduce these plastic wastes in our landfills by using reusable utensils or biodegradable material. To-Go Ware encourages people to participate in the process by providing people the tools to do so. By doing so, we can reduce plastic waste, set an example for many people and have a positive impact on people and our planet.
Bernstein gained many things from starting this company. She is making a living from selling reusable products and tools for a cause. It has been something she wanted to do since she was in college. Promoting such products makes our world a more eco friendly place. Stephanie and To-Go Ware’s mission is to produce products that provide a solution, tell a great story, and are enjoyable to use. They were very successful.
Our world faces many ecological challenges. Bernstein and her company To-Go Ware promotes re-useable products for an eco friendly environment. They encourage people to recycle and follow their footsteps by buying their products to create cleaner Earth. To-Go Ware products may even be used in places such as restaurants, cafes, salad bars and other food service locations. By using these products, you can help reduce plastic waste, set an good example for others and help create a better environment. Rethink and respect the planet by reduce, reuse and recycle. By working together, we can change the world.









Bibliography

http://www.to-goware.com/about/team.htm

http://commongroundmag.com/2009/03/pin0903.html

http://www.evo.com/content/to-go_ware/2967/utensil_set