PURPOSE
Preserve Our Land, Oceans and Health
We implement practical reuse solutions to reduce single-use foodware in Maui.
Why Reuse
Why Reuse
Every disposable cup, container, and utensil we use represents a chain of environmental consequences stretching from resource extraction to waste disposal. When we choose reuse, we break this destructive cycle at its source.
Health & Environment Imperative
Reusable systems consistently outperform single-use alternatives across health and environmental impact.
Foodware made from inert materials like stainless steel, glass, or ceramic eliminates the risk to human and environmental health from harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, styrene, and PFAS (commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’) that prevails with the use of plastics.
From an environmental perspective, although the extraction and production of reusable foodware may initially generate higher greenhouse gas emissions, these impacts are significantly outweighed over time. Once reusable items are used a certain number of times—the "break-even point"—they begin to offer greater environmental benefits compared to their disposable counterparts. This break-even point typically represents only a small fraction of a reusable item's total lifespan. For instance, depending on materials used, reusable cups reach environmental parity after just 2 to 122 uses, plates after 3 to 50 uses, and utensils after as few as 2 uses, per analysis by Upstream.
Reuse is the right solution for millions of single-use items from Maui's 2.5 million annual visitors that creates massive waste management and environmental challenges that neither landfills nor incinerators can adequately address.
Beyond Confusing, Often Imperfect Alternatives
There is a wide range of foodware products available today, giving consumers and businesses more choices than ever. However, this also makes it difficult to determine which products are truly sustainable.
Understanding the environmental impact of different materials and how they break down, through recycling or composting, can be confusing. For instance, "compostable" alternatives may need to be separated and taken to specialized facilities to break-down, which continues to burden waste collection and management systems. “Compostables” that are instead sent to landfill or that end up in the ocean, contribute to the very environmental problems they were meant to solve.
Opaque product information, deceptive marketing, and confusing certifications further complicate matters for both restaurants and consumers. Greenwashing, when companies make products appear more eco-friendly than they are, is common, creating a false sense of security and making it harder to make informed choices.
The Maui government has taken a monumental step in banning single-use styrene and other plastic foodware, setting the stage for healthier alternatives. By choosing reusable options over disposables, we can simplify waste management practices, significantly reduce environmental impact, and support human and wildlife health, making reusable foodware the most effective solution.
Community and Economic Benefit
Reuse can create a bustling and regenerative economy in Maui, keeping both materials and money flowing within our community. Developing Reusable solutions has the potential to create several employment opportunities in collection, washing/sanitation and redistribution. We estimate that reusable foodware could eliminate up to 100 metric tons annual waste in Maui with associated $8 million in estimated yearly savings for the island community that may be redeployed in growth.
Aligning with Island's Values
Reuse represents more than environmental stewardship for Maui's limited resources —it's a practical necessity. Reuse honors the traditional Hawaiian value of malama 'āina (caring for the land) by treating resources as precious and worthy of preservation rather than as temporary conveniences to be discarded.
Together, we can transform our relationship with resources and build lasting systems that protect Maui for generations to come.
Stark Facts
A third of the landfill waste comprises single-use foodware which can be significantly reduced by switching to reusables.
--- Upstream, a change agent for Reuse
32% of all plastic packaging produced finds its way to our oceans every year; this figure is the equivalent of pouring one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute
-- A World Economic Forum Study
75% of water bottles are not recycled; they take 450 years to beak down.
--- World Wildlife Fund
Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die from plastic pollution every year, either by ingestion or entanglement.
--- UNESCO, 2021
Lend Us A Hand
Fund Reuse Solutions
Fund Reuse Solutions
Help us with our marketing, including managing our website, collateral and social media, working remotely from anywhere.
Assist with ground efforts by enrolling restaurants in the Reuse program. Click to volunteer.
Fund Reuse Solutions
Fund Reuse Solutions
Fund Reuse Solutions
Get in touch to fund Reuse. All contributions will directly support the Reuse program and will be used for reusable containers and utensils for food outlets, dishwashing solutions, staff training and community outreach events.
Be Our Restaurant Champion
Partner To Accelerate Reuse
Partner To Accelerate Reuse
If you have mastered being disposable-free, share your story with us and others who are on their Reuse journey. Email us so we can spotlight your success, and help make the switch easier for all.
Partner To Accelerate Reuse
Partner To Accelerate Reuse
Partner To Accelerate Reuse
Our mission thrives through partnerships. We're always looking to collaborate on projects and events. If your organization shares our goal and values, let's work together to make a positive impact.
Our Founding Team
Suparna Vashisht
Suparna Vashisht
Suparna Vashisht
Founder
Suparna is passionate about driving social change in the areas of sustainability, conservation and gender equality. She loves the ocean and its inhabitants, and spends as much time as she can snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddle boarding. She feels incredibly privileged to enjoy the beauty and magic of Maui, and is actively inv
Founder
Suparna is passionate about driving social change in the areas of sustainability, conservation and gender equality. She loves the ocean and its inhabitants, and spends as much time as she can snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddle boarding. She feels incredibly privileged to enjoy the beauty and magic of Maui, and is actively involved with two local non-profits dedicated to preserving its unique ecosystem. She founded Project Reuse as another way to help protect Maui's "aina" from "mauka to makai". Previously, Suparna held senior executive roles in marketing and strategy for Fortune 100 companies. For the past two decades, she has worked in leadership positions with conservation organizations, driving change and fostering collaboration to achieve meaningful results. Suparna co-founded Women Back to Work, a program that creates systemic pathways for women to re-enter the workforce. She is also an Advisory Board member for Project Coyote, which works to protect wild carnivores for their intrinsic and ecological value.
Shveta Grover
Suparna Vashisht
Suparna Vashisht
Co-Founder
Shveta enjoys nature walks, treks and hikes, and is deeply dismayed by the irresponsible consumption habits that wreak havoc to our environment and the stark, disproportionate impact this has on vulnerable ecosystems such as on the island of Maui. Inspired to reverse this effect by reimagining our approach, and enabling change i
Co-Founder
Shveta enjoys nature walks, treks and hikes, and is deeply dismayed by the irresponsible consumption habits that wreak havoc to our environment and the stark, disproportionate impact this has on vulnerable ecosystems such as on the island of Maui. Inspired to reverse this effect by reimagining our approach, and enabling change in mindset and actions, Shveta is committed to Project Reuse to unlock tremendous potential for environmental restoration and social progress within the community.
Shveta brings nearly two decades of experience in driving the strategy, growth and operational excellence at Citibank across Retail Banking, Wealth Management and Credit Cards & Lending. She has played a prominent role in promoting women’s leadership development, and mentored aspiring colleagues through her work for Black and Hispanic Heritage Network. Shveta earned her MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Shveta excels at launching and managing strategic programs, while leading with empathy.
Neha Agarwal
Suparna Vashisht
Neha Agarwal
Co-Founder
Neha's love for the ocean draws her to snorkeling, diving and even attempts at surfing during any free-time she can find. She is profoundly concerned with the rising levels of solid waste - much of which is avoidable - polluting the oceans, and is therefore contributing her time and effort for their preservation through Project
Co-Founder
Neha's love for the ocean draws her to snorkeling, diving and even attempts at surfing during any free-time she can find. She is profoundly concerned with the rising levels of solid waste - much of which is avoidable - polluting the oceans, and is therefore contributing her time and effort for their preservation through Project Reuse.
Neha is a senior finance leader at Freshworks Inc., a SAAS technology company. She is a Certified Public Accountant and for the past 18+ years has led teams to develop strong financial and operational processes and controls, including enterprise risk management and mitigation programs at large companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers. Neha has been involved with several non-profit organizations as a consultant and as an auditor, helping her clients establish responsible accounting and book-keeping practices. Neha is adept at pursuing new strategies with appropriate checks and balances.
Our Partners
