We’ve got the dish(es)!
“We deliver. You use. We wash. You repeat!” This is the business model of Sparkl in a nutshell. It all started with Paul Liotsakis, founder and CEO of Sparkl, eating his lunch at a patio near his workplace and watching nearby trash receptacles fill up to overflowing with single-use containers, which sparked a flash of inspiration. Here is the origin story of Sparkl in Paul’s own words.
Paul (right) launching reusables at beloved Petaluma lunch spot Lunchette.
It was a long, strange trip, this business I started in the emerging circular economy space. When I launched Sparkl nearly a decade ago, reuse was still a niche idea. Fiber compostables were taking off, and many businesses, encouraged by city policies, believed they had found the way to reduce food service waste: “We’re good! We just switched to compostables.”
Introducing reusable food containers into this landscape required persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to test new approaches. Starting in late 2014 with an Indiegogo campaign, the original model relied on a paid membership and an app—an approach that proved too early and too complex for the market. Still, we kept moving forward, expanding beyond restaurants into bulk meal programs and events. In 2018, we partnered with Runner’s Mind to introduce reusable water cups at running events—something I believe was a national first. That same year, we worked with the City of Palo Alto to implement a fully reusable foodware system at the May Fete Parade’s food trucks. It was a bold experiment for both the city and Sparkl, and I remember my nerves the night before, wondering how people would react to a $2 deposit. But it worked, and those early wins emboldened us to keep innovating.
Being ahead of the market has meant plenty of lessons in timing. In 2017, I pitched the Golden State Warriors on deploying reusables at their new San Francisco stadium—an idea that could have significantly reduced single-use waste while propelling the business forward. But without enough momentum, it fell on deaf ears. Thankfully, I was still working a different full-time job back then!
Fast forward to today, and we continue to break new ground, building partnerships with cities, counties, institutions, and food vendors across the Bay Area. From pioneering reusable dishware at senior meal programs and farmers' markets to launching pilots that lower adoption barriers, we’re constantly refining our approach—balancing materials, user experience, and sustainability to make reuse practical at scale.
One initiative we’re particularly proud of is repurposing broken clamshells from our bulk meal programs as trays at food trucks and street fairs instead of recycling them. It’s a simple yet pragmatic shift that strengthens the circular loop—and vendors and customers love it.
After nearly a decade, we know that real change requires persistence, creativity, and meeting the market where it is. But when we see waste prevented, habits changed, and communities embracing reuse, it’s all worth it. Here’s to the next decade of making reuse the norm!
Paul Liotsakis is the founder and CEO of Sparkl
Resources for Reusables:
Upstream Solutions is full of resources to bring reusables to your community.
Story of Stuff has trainings, grants, and more to help advocate for reusables where you live.
Upcoming Events
May 31 : San Rafael Repair Fair
Join us for our next Repair Fair at the Pickleweed Library and Community Center in San Rafael. Bring your clothes, small appliances, lamps, bikes and anything else you can carry in and we will try to fix it for free. If you have an item in need of repair you can register it at the link below. We can always use general volunteers in addition to Repair Coaches! If you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
June 28 : Fairfax Repair Fair
We will be back in Fairfax at the Fairfax Library for another Repair Fair at the end of June. If you have an item in need of repair you can register it at the link below so we can be as prepared as possible. And as always we need general volunteers in addition to Repair Coaches! If you’d like to get involved email volunteer@reusealliance.org or sign up here !
July 12 : Napa Repair Fair
We will be hosting our first Repair Fair in Napa at the Main Napa County Library on July 12th. Find more details and register your item for repair at the link below. This will be our first time in Napa thanks to the Napa RCD so if you have friends in Napa please let them know! You can spend the morning wine tasting and then come volunteer for the Repair Fair! General volunteers and Repair Coaches can sign up here.
Opportunities
May 27 : Our first Creative Reuse Center Roundtable of the year is happening at 10am PST.
May 27 : We’re thrilled to be featured on Slate’s ‘How to’ podcast. Look for the episode dropping on the 27th.
May 30 at 12pm PST : Deadline to submit for an San Francisco Environment Department Biennial Grant
June 1 : Deadline to apply for a 2025 CPSC Green Arrow Award. To be awarded at the CRRA Conference Aug 3-6 (early registration ends June 6th).
June 6 : Deadline to apply to design our 2025 Reuse Awareness Campaign. See it first by donating here!
June 1 - July 5: “Waste Not,” an art exhibit at Building Resources, San Francisco, includes furniture and art made from salvaged lumber by Formr and paintings of salvage yards by Heath Massey (the editor of Reuse News)
We’re Hiring!
Are you passionate about reuse, experienced in retail management, and looking for an opportunity to work in Petaluma, CA? We’re hiring in anticipation of some exciting news coming next issue.
We’re hiring a full time Reuse Hub Manager. Read the full Job Description here.
Send your resume and cover letter to info@reusealliance.org to apply.
Reuse in the News
Reuse is a beacon of hope according to a new report from Zero Waste Europe.
Did you know the center of a wind turbine is called a nacelle? And it’s big enough to reuse as a house?!?
A good example of reuse, then recycle in the wasteful world of sneakers.
Reuse to Amuse
Resources for reuse are all around us. Just look up.
It’s wedding season. Did you know the average wedding produces 400 pounds of trash? There are so many ways reuse can make them personal and affordable.
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