In response to a 2018 AAP warning about the dangers of plastic foodware, pediatrician Manasa Mantravadi founded Ahimsa in 2019, producing stainless steel dishware for children. With a successful direct-to-consumer model, Ahimsa partnered with the Clinton Global Initiative to implement the Conscious Cafeteria Project across 15 schools to reduce plastic waste. This initiative not only decreased CO2 emissions but also saved schools approximately $4,000 annually per location. Educating administrators on the risks of plastic dishware remains a key challenge for Mantravadi as she pushes for healthier choices for children.
Children can't advocate for themselves-they don't have voting power, they don't make purchasing decisions. It's my job as a pediatrician, it's parents' jobs, it's legislators' jobs, it's teachers' jobs. We're the adults in the room, and we've got to make better choices to invest in their health.
The Conscious Cafeteria Project saw 15 elementary schools swap their plastic trays and utensils for reusable stainless steel over the course of a school year.
By making the swap to reusable steel utensils, each school saved nearly $4,000 per year, while also displacing over 1 million single-use items.
Permanently eliminating plastics from cafeterias can reduce their average annual CO2 emissions by 83%, while decreasing water usage by 78%.
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