Plastic-Free Boston Aquariums

The New England Aquarium, in partnership with hospitality provider Sodexo Live!, has eliminated all single-use plastics from its on-site dining and concessions. The achievement caps a multi-year effort that began in 2017, and is inspired by the Aquarium’s mission to protect ocean health.

The transition started at the Harbor View Café, where plastic utensils, serveware, and beverage bottles were gradually replaced with recyclable or compostable alternatives. Over the past year, the Aquarium and Sodexo Live! accelerated progress by removing roughly one-third of menu items that relied on plastic or non-compostable packaging, including snack foods, cereals, yogurt cups, and packaged desserts. Plastic condiment packets were also replaced with portion-controlled dispensers.

Today, the café uses biodegradable cups, compostable takeout containers, and snack packaging designed for commercial or home composting.

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