Whirley-DrinkWorks!’s Post

College campuses are making great commitments to sustainability and reusables. Read more to learn how Northern Arizona University converted its campus restaurant containers to plastic-free products from USEFULL.

The rise of the sustainable campus, via Earth911 and USEFULL. Read more about the circular economy, reusables, and sustainable takeout in campus dining.

If you’re like most folks in the campus dining world, you’ve been hearing about reusables for a while now and have probably formed opinions of your own. Maybe you are concerned that a program would be difficult to implement or that the students wouldn’t like it. Whatever concerns you have, we are here to ease your mind. Check out the top five myths about reusables in our most recent blog post! https://lnkd.in/grhEi-x5 #usefull #reusable #plasticfree #sustainable #zerowaste #collegedining #zerowastegoals

What makes people switch to reuse? Here's an interesting article from Sukhbir Sandhu a few years ago in The Conversation UK about some of the behavioural aspects of switching to reuse. We know from our own work at re-universe that these are true. We have also learned that combining deposits with a 'no choice' switch by retailers from single use cups to reusables is incredibly effective at creating change and driving the message home. What's more, it costs the consumer nothing if they return their cup and they get to drink from a much nicer cup! What's not to like? https://lnkd.in/dP_UWAWQ #reuse #sustainability #reuniverse

"Implementing our program would eliminate over 10.5 million pieces of disposable plastic annually and save over $4.3 million in yearly expenses, and that's just in the past 6 campuses we've done this assessment with." Learn more about reusable to-go initiatives from our Atlas Coordinator Lisa and students Abby (Macalester) & Katin (Cal Poly Humboldt)!

LED lighting in school cafeterias with daylight harvesting capabilities can greatly enhance the dining experience by using natural light effectively, which also helps in reducing energy costs during daylight hours. This technology adjusts indoor lighting in response to the amount of available sunlight, promoting a pleasant and well-lit environment for students to enjoy their meals. High-efficiency LEDs further ensure that energy consumption is kept to a minimum, supporting schools' efforts towards sustainability and cost-efficiency throughout the academic year. This approach not only saves money but also aligns with environmental stewardship principles. 

Hesitant to make the switch to a new reusables program? ♻ Join our live webinar with Vanderbilt University Assistant Director of Campus Dining Jeffrey Weissinger, MBA and Topanga.io Co-Founder and CRO Max Olshansky where they’ll dive into Vanderbilt’s history of reuse and share all the reasons why they decided to switch to Topanga's ReusePass reusables program, including the following: - The ease of switching to a packaging-agnostic reusables program. - How they are now saving thousands of dollars per month on single-use packaging costs. - The value of individually tracking a person and not a token. - Why they expanded from 3 to 7 residential dining halls and into retail as well. - How implementing RFID scanning helped them reduce labor costs. - And more! We hope to see you there! Register below. #Sustainability #EliminateSingleUse #ReusablePackaging #FoodService #EnvironmentalImpact #Reusables #ReusablesProgram #ReusePass

Sustainable School Lunches: Shaping the Future of Environmental Responsibility. Dive into the transformative world of sustainable school lunch programs, where education meets action in reducing food waste and fostering eco-friendly habits. Discuss the impact of these initiatives in instilling sustainable practices among students from a young age. Explore how schools are integrating educational programs, strategic food planning, and waste management to create a culture of sustainability. Share your thoughts on the importance of student-led initiatives and real-world experiences in sustainability, and how these school lunch programs are not only reducing waste but also shaping environmentally conscious future citizens. Join the conversation on the challenges, successes, and future prospects of these vital educational efforts. #SustainableEducation #FoodWasteReduction #SchoolLunchPrograms #EnvironmentalStewardship #FrozeNet #FrozeNetInsights https://lnkd.in/dWKZd9Ye

😩 #1 PAIN Point = Labor! 2 conference takeaways: 1: One thing was consistent at the NACUFS conference. Most operators I spoke with said their #1 problem was labor and staffing. 2. Most operators appreciated and sought solutions that freed up their and their employees’ time. 👉 Following Terravive yet? ✅ Terravive is the leading woman, minority, veteran owned global supplier of 100% Made in USA, No PFAS added, eco-friendly, compostable #Foodservice Disposables - - WBENC certified. 🌱 Follow Terravive’s mission to turn off the tap of plastic pollution globally. #Sustainability #college #university #CampusDining #Food #WasteManagement Joe Swider

Our CEO Jonathan Tostevin recently took the mic on MONEY FM 89.3's breakfast show! 🎙️ The discussion was about Muuse's innovative approach to sustainability through our returnable packaging system, and our plans for the future. If you didn’t catch it on air, here’s some of the juice! **Q:** Jonathan, can you explain Muse's smart returnable packaging system? Jonathan: “It's simple! Customers scan a QR code on the container, borrow it for 30 days, then return it. It's like a library book system for packaging!” Q: “And what were the results of your pilot program at Tampines Hub's Hawker Center?” Jonathan: “The pilot program at our Tampines hub's Hawker Center actually exceeded our expectations! We were impressed by the uptake, especially among seniors. Almost 10,000 reusable containers were used!” Jonathan said. "I think when people consider disposable packaging, they obviously think about the waste going to landfills. But, what many people don't realize is the significant carbon impact associated with the sheer volume of packaging we produce. Derived from fossil fuels such as oil, these materials ultimately end up in landfills, contributing to substantial emissions. Through an independent analysis, we determined that we reduced 1.2 tons of carbon emissions during the project, equivalent to driving 7,000 kilometers in a car!” But wait, there's more! Daniel Lowe, owner of Ippon Fusion Bowl, one of the Hawkers at the Hawker center - also shared his experience with using Muuse reusable containers, **Q:** Daniel, how was your experience using Muse's reusable containers at Ippon Fusion Bowl? Daniel: “Customers like the container because it keeps the food temperature longer!” “I think that F&B is one of the ground users that contributes to plastic use every day. So participating in this could definitely increase public awareness of this program and promote the concept.” Jonathan also explained and spilled the tea on what’s next happening in Muuse: “Currently, Muuse is looking at whether we can automate more of the borrowing and return process to actually improve the experience of picking up and dropping back. We're also looking at how we can build rewards into our platform so that we can incentivize users, like a loyalty program, to continue using and reusing it. We're expanding across F&B and beyond! From Singapore's food courts to Starbucks in Hong Kong, we're on a mission to make reusable packaging the norm. Join us in our commitment to sustainability and the journey towards a greener future! Remember - One reusable at a time! ♻️ 🌱