Reusable utensil distribution coming to Lawrence Ellison Café
By Nick Houser
(SACRAMENTO)
The Sustainability team will be distributing reusable utensils multiple days between April and June.
Staff interested in picking up the utensils can find staff at the Lawrence Ellison Café at the ACC, the café dining area across from the old pharmacy space, on the following dates:
Thursday, April 23
Friday, May 1
Friday, May 8
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 18
Thursday, May 28
Tuesday, June 2
Thursday, June 11
Monday, June 15
Thursday, June 25
All distribution times are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Utensil kits are one per person and while supplies last. Staff must present a badge at time of pick up. Please do not request to pick up for others.
This effort is a collaboration to reduce single use plastic waste at UC Davis Health. The Scrubs Café, Nourish Café and now the Lawrence Ellison Café will no longer offer single-use plastic utensils to staff. You are encouraged to use your reusable utensil kit whenever visiting campus eateries. Individual reusable utensils (fork or spoon) can be purchased at the register if staff forget their utensils. Single-use plastic utensils are only reserved for visitors and will not be offered to staff.
Sustainability and Nutrition Services are excited to offer a limited-time discount for staff who bring and show their reusable utensils at Lawrence Ellison Café and Scrubs Café.
Since launching this project in July 2025, more than 4,400 utensil kits have been distributed to staff, including complete building commitments to no longer purchase single use plastic utensils from HAS Rancho Cordova and the Patient Contact Center in Rancho Cordova. These commitments to no longer purchase and utilize single-use plastic utensils have increased UC Davis Health’s overall impact to a total savings of more than $1,300 a year and more than 44,000 utensils no longer being purchased per year.
Staff from the HAS Building pose with their utensil kits.
"Using reusable cutlery matters to me because small everyday choices can reduce waste, protect the environment, and help create more sustainable habits for our community,” said Paaras Puri, building operations coordinator.
"Sustainability, to me, means taking care of people, spaces, and resources so things actually work today and still work tomorrow. In my world, it’s simple: Come together as a team to fix what’s broken, use what we have wisely, and leave things better than we found them,” said Kristina Guzman, manager.
"I believe sustainability in the workplace is essential because the choices we make today help protect our environment, strengthen our organization, and create a better future for everyone,” said Samantha Daly, safety coordinator.
"Having these reusable utensils will help us reduce our waste, which is important to me,” said Denise Mercado, LINC health navigator.
