Inspired to Save Our Seas

The 52-foot-long model of a Megalodon shark that hangs from the ceiling of a newly renovated dining space at Washington-D.C. museum inspired the Restaurant Associates team to design a reusable souvenir cup.

The location is the first among the Smithsonian public museums to eliminate single-use plastic bottles starting in September 2019, despite the high demand for habitual and convenient plastic bottles.

Made possible through the partnership between Restaurant Associates (RA) and Smithsonian Enterprises, the teams swapped disposable plastics for glass and metal beverage containers in all café locations throughout the museum.

The reusable cup, complete with a picture of the shark and a message that supports the Smithsonian institution’s mission to “keep the seas plastic free,” comes with an incentive to invest in our seas by offering unlimited fountain beverage refills on the day of purchase. More than 330 cups were sold during the first two weeks of the soft reopening of the museum in July 2021.

RA continues to explore new environmentally responsible options and innovations to fulfill guest expectations and company goals while fiercely protecting our oceans and their wild habitants.