A Guide to Plastic-Free Eating in Austin: Restaurants Using Compostable and Reusable Packaging
By Sarah Zientek
Avoiding Styrofoam and other single-use plastics while eating out can feel nearly impossible, even in Austin, a city known for its green initiatives. But alternatives are available.
Although many restaurants in Austin still use plastics, compostable packaging is gaining traction as concerns about our environment and health continue to rise. While recyclable packaging has long been promoted as an eco-friendly option, recent studies reveal its shortcomings. For example, only 5-6% of what we recycle gets recycled. Furthermore, the recycling process itself can release more microplastics into the environment. With microplastics now being discovered in human lungs, blood, and brain, it’s no wonder people are more concerned than ever about their exposure.
Austin’s Zero Waste ordinance requires food businesses to donate or compost food waste, which has helped divert organic waste from landfills and requires all businesses to contract for recycling collection. However, the widespread use of single-use packaging remains a significant source of pollution that harms human health. That’s why supporting Austin restaurants that prioritize the environment and their customers’ health is so important. By choosing businesses that opt for compostable or reusable packaging, you’re not just enjoying a meal — you’re helping to reduce waste and protect our planet and your health.
Here are some Austin restaurants doing their part to provide to-go food without all the guilt of putting food and drink in plastic.
Palomino Coffee
Palomino Coffee has long been an Austin staple, offering a great space to study or work (laptop-friendly) and a small marketplace full of local products and home goods. For dining in, Palomino serves coffee in reusable glass cups. For to-go orders, they use compostable cups, straws, and even fiber drink holders for those grabbing multiple drinks, making it easy to enjoy your coffee with a lighter environmental footprint.
Bonus: grab one of Palomino’s branded reusable cups and ditch the single-use ones for good!
Juiceland
Are you looking for a healthy drink with eco-friendly packaging? Austin’s favorite smoothie shop has gone compostable! Juiceland now uses TOGOCO, a local Austin company specializing in compostable containers, for their personalized smoothie and juice cups. TOGOCO started as a way to reduce Styrofoam usage and has grown to partner with numerous Austin restaurants, providing them with plant-based compostable containers. Curious about who else is making the switch? Check out the list of restaurants using TOGOCO here.
Casa De Luz
If you’re looking for a zero-waste healthy meal in a welcoming community setting, look no further than Casa de Luz. This nonprofit community center serves organic, vegan dishes made with seasonal, local ingredients and offers a daily fixed menu. In addition to its café, the village area features a juice shack and hosts yoga, meditation and education classes, making it a perfect place to nourish body and mind. At the café, you will find only reusable plates and silverware. Casa de Luz offers compostable containers for those taking their meal to go.
While compostable materials are a significant improvement over traditional recycling, the ideal way to enjoy food on the go is by avoiding single-use containers altogether and bringing your reusables. Recognizing that bringing your own is not always easy, Casa de Luz will charge you a small fee for its partnership with DeliverZero, a nationwide reusable food container network. When I visited, I noticed several customers scanning the QR code to access DeliverZero’s website.
Sa-Ten & Kome
If you’re looking for Japanese for lunch, Sa-Ten is a fantastic choice. Known for warm meals, pastries, and coffee, Sa-Ten offers a cozy atmosphere perfect for a casual bite. The owners also run Kome, a popular Japanese sit-down restaurant named Austin’s “Best Japanese Restaurant” in 2023. Kome serves delicious Japanese food at reasonable prices, making it a go-to spot for sushi lovers and those craving authentic Japanese dishes. Sa-Ten and Kome are committed to sustainability, using reusable plates for dine-in customers and offering compostable to-go containers for those on the move.
Wheatsville
Wheatsville has been an Austin staple since 1976, serving as a food cooperative and a to-go restaurant. Owned by thousands of residents, Wheatsville is committed to providing local, healthy foods. The grocery store’s hot bar features compostable takeout containers, making it easier to enjoy a quick premade meal on the go while supporting sustainability.
Ice Cream
Austin features a variety of dessert spots that have made the switch to compostable materials. Ice cream shops like Lick, Gati, and Jeni’s are leading the charge, selling delicious, sweet treats while minimizing environmental impact. All three shops use fiber-based containers and compostable utensils to make it easier to enjoy your dessert while you’re supporting businesses that are committed to reducing waste.
If you’re an Austin food business looking to make the switch, we can help connect you with resources! Businesses can get up to $1,800 from the City of Austin for compostable or reusable products as well as a rebate of up to $3,000 for organic hauling services and supplies. Additionally, Austin Water offers rebates for water-efficient dishwashers. There are many ways to cut costs and ease the transition, from rebates to recommendations.
Take our survey here to get started.
Sarah Zientek is a recent graduate with degrees in Global Communications and Computer Science. She is the Summer 2024 Environmental Policy and Advocacy Intern for the Texas office of Public Citizen in Austin.