Tony Chachere’s & UpClear: Adding Spice to Trade Planning
Founded in 1972 by Louisiana chef Tony Chachere (pronounced /sash-er-ee/), Tony Chachere’s...
One of UpClear’s corporate values is “responsibility.” We demonstrate our responsibility to sustainability and social impact through our membership in 1% for the Planet. Through this initiative, we support organizations that drive meaningful change for communities and the planet. We specifically seek causes that: a) champion environmental education and impact, b) include and empower children in their work, and c) are located where UpClear is located.
UpClear is proud to highlight one of the causes we support: Cafeteria Culture (CafCu) They are a New York City-based nonprofit at the forefront of environmental education and youth empowerment. UpClear recently assisted Cafeteria Culture with the redevelopment of their website. In celebration of it’s launch, we down with their leaders to talk about the work they do and the mission they work to solve.
Cafeteria Culture (CafCu) was started in 2009 by the late Debby Lee Cohen with a mission to eliminate polystyrene trays from New York City (NYC) public schools. “At the time, NYC schools were using over 850,000 polystyrene trays per day- that’s enough to create a stack higher than the Empire State Building every single day,” said Atsuko Quirk, Executive Director of Cafeteria Culture. What began as a push to reduce cafeteria waste quickly grew into something bigger. Today, CafCu blends climate and civic education with youth-led advocacy, empowering students to become changemakers in their own communities. Atsuko continued, “[Debby Lee] believed that if you want to create systemic change, you must start with children. They’re the ones who can see the future differently…and make change happen.”
CafCu works in NYC public schools, engaging thousands of students through hands-on programs, waste audits, and student-led advocacy initiatives. Their model has influenced waste reduction policies in NYC schools and communities, demonstrating how local actions can drive systemic change. As Rhonda Keyser, Cafteteria Culture’s Program and Policy Director says, “the work we do is about amplifying student voice and giving them the tools they need to succeed and feel seen.
Cafeteria Culture works to transform school cafeterias and communities into hubs for environmental action and social impact. Their mission is to eliminate plastic waste, reduce pollution, and empower students to become leaders in climate change awareness. Through hands-on education, student-led advocacy, and policy initiatives, they work to shift behaviors and make progress toward zero waste and sustainable solutions.
They focus on equipping students, particularly in underrepresented communities, with the knowledge and skills to lead environmental change in their schools and neighborhoods. As Atsuko and Rhonda emphasize, “We’re all about making sure that people from underrepresented groups have a seat at the table and that their voices are heard.” By bridging the gap between school sustainability efforts and broader policy changes, they aim to create long-term, systemic impact.
As Cafeteria Culture has evolved, they’ve created toolkits that are available at no charge to schools based on the programs they’ve initiated in New York City:
These programs have been adopted by schools around the world.
“It’s about building a culture where inclusion is at the forefront of every decision.”
Atsuko Quark, Executive Director, Cafeteria Culture
The Cafeteria Culture team suggests starting small and local. Atsuko recommends tracking your use of single-use plastics for just one week, paying attention to plastic wrappers, utensils, or takeout containers. “You’ll be surprised how much adds up,” she said, “and awareness is the first step to change.” Rhonda encourages families and schools to compost food waste, even on a small scale. Says Rhonda, “Food scraps are not trash- they can be turned into soil.” She suggests eliminating these from home waste and instead composting them. Whether you’re at home, in school, or at work, simple actions like these help build habits that ripple into broader environmental change.
There are several ways to support Cafeteria Culture’s mission. Organizations and schools can partner with them to design and implement tailored programs that promote sustainability. Individuals can also contribute by sharing educational resources and organizing plastic-free events in their communities or workplaces. For those looking to make a direct impact can donate or volunteer — visit the Cafeteria Culture website to learn more about financial contributions. Donations go far beyond materials- they help fund the passionate staff who work directly with students. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or spread the word, visit the Cafeteria Culture website to learn how you can be part of their movement.
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