March 11—At Brown University, in Providence, students purchasing salads at both Josiah’s and the Blue Room can elect to use compostable salad containers, an option introduced by Brown Dining Services this semester.
The new containers, made out of compostable wheat straw materials, are longer and more shallow than the old containers, which are made out of plastic. The new containers also come with a plastic top.
Aaron Fitzsenry, culinary manager for retail dining, said he found the new containers online while brainstorming new menu items for the Blue Room. He said he realized just how useful these containers could be as an alternative to the previous plastic containers.
The containers are produced by a company called World Centric, which emphasizes sustainability and economic fairness in the production of its food packaging, according to its website. Its packaging is made of completely compostable material — the plant remains of wheat grain and chaff — and is gluten-free. Composting allows for food waste to be put back into the soil and used as a natural fertilizer.