We pride ourselves on providing reusable containers that last. 

While our containers are designed for longevity—many have been in circulation for upwards of four years—eventually, they will need to be retired. 

The beauty of long-lasting reusables

Built to withstand years in circulation, our plastic-free reusables offset their carbon footprint in as little as 33 uses—a breakeven point most containers reach quickly. Each subsequent use in the container’s lifetime nets pure environmental gain. 

In short, the longer a reusable container lives, the longer it can generate returns on the energy investment it took to create it. That’s exactly why we work with durable materials like stainless steel and silicone: the environmental ROI is that much higher.

USEFULL’s recycling plan

Our policy is simple: if we hear from a campus partner that any of their inventory has reached the end of its life, we not only replace it, we take back the retired containers for recycling.

Remarkably, nearly all of our USEFULL containers are still in service. Whenever that changes, we will work with certified recycling partners that specialize in steel or silicone recycling to give the materials new life. 

The recycling process

Our stainless steel can be endlessly recycled without quality degradation. The recycled steel can be used for a variety of applications like industrial scaffolding, appliances, or new USEFULL containers (our existing cups and bowls already contain approximately 30% recycled steel). The silicone lids can also be reprocessed into materials like playground mulch. 

Why do we choose stainless steel?

Plastic recycling isn’t what you think. The reality is that the production of plastic waste far outpaces the amount of plastic that actually gets recycled. A mere 5-to-6% of plastic in the US is recycled, a number that has been on a steady decline year over year, while plastic production grows exponentially. Even in an ideal world where all plastics are effectively recycled, the process can only be done once or twice. Even then, recycled plastic carries major toxicity risks. 

But with so much plastic already in this world, responsible recycling does have a role as a means to an end. Sometimes well-intentioned institutions are hesitant to part ways with the plastic “reusable” containers they’ve already invested in—even if they don’t feel great about it. 

USEFULL’s Plastic Buyback Program is designed to remove that barrier, helping college campuses transition away from plastic sooner and reduce their waste footprint. After buying back and responsibly recycling your campus’ plastic containers, USEFULL swaps in 100% plastic-free containers made of double-walled stainless steel, with a proven 99%+ return rate.

A truly reusable future

You can’t solve a plastic problem with more plastic. Real progress means deploying solutions that truly last. With USEFULL’s 100% plastic-free solutions, campuses can finally close the loop, eliminate waste, and deliver a reuse system that matches their values.

For now, every USEFULL container is still going strong. But when it’s time to retire them, campuses can feel confident knowing their reusables will continue delivering environmental gains long after their last meal.