CASE STUDY

Northern Arizona University

From Plastic Frustration to 34% Cost Savings in One Year

After switching from flimsy plastic reusables to USEFULL’s plastic-free reuse program, Northern Arizona University became the first school in Arizona to implement a mandatory reusable takeout system—and they cut packaging costs by more than a third in the process. Here’s how they got there.

SNAPSHOT

Transitioned from fragile plastic containers to durable stainless steel

Won AZ Forward Environmental Excellence Award from Governor Hobbs

34%

Cost savings against single-use containers

10,000+

Students registered

270,000+

Container checkouts

<1%

Inventory loss rate

[THE PROBLEM]

NAU wanted to cut down on single-use waste because plastic reusables weren’t working

The plastic-based program NAU implemented in 2023 had serious flaws: containers frequently broke, and students who borrowed them weren’t bringing them back. Plastic reusables weren’t popular among students and created headaches for dining staff. By and large, Sodexo’s takeout meals continued to be served in pricey compostable containers.

“Whenever we did see people using the [plastic] program, we would hardly ever see them return the container. And the containers that did get returned would end up breaking.”

Jacob Vanetsky | Sodexo Sustainability Specialist

In an entire academic year, the 28,000-student campus saw only 877 reusable container checkouts. Single-use disposables prevailed, and the expensive trash kept piling up.

[The Solution]

Trackable stainless steel containers and technology to make reuse run smoothly

The new program solved for the campus’s breakage, loss, and accountability challenges—finally giving Sodexo the right tools to become a reuse-first operation.

System upgrades gave reuse culture a total makeover. Damage and stain-resistant stainless steel containers replaced the plastic ones. A QR-code based tracking system started keeping track of user checkouts. Students began receiving automated return reminders, and campus administrators gained access to custom reports on program data.

In addition to generating environmental impact, Sodexo finally unlocked the cost savings that come with a successful reuse system.

Upgrading a retail location to reusables now saves Sodexo 34% on packaging costs.

[ 2024]

Pilot

USEFULL arrives at three retail locations

NAU’s Green Fund collaborates with Sodexo dining to implement a year-long pilot of USEFULL.

Stainless steel becomes the default takeout container at three popular dining locations. Students ordering from the reuse-activated locations receive their meal in a premium stainless steel container for a waste-free, convenient experience.

More than 140,000 containers are checked out in the first year.

Close to 10,000 users—33% of the student population—register for USEFULL.

[ 2025]

Scaled Rollout

Operations reach new parts of campus

Sodexo brings the program to three new retail locations, for a total of six active locations with additional expansions planned for 2026.

New return stations are added to high traffic spots on North and South campuses for added convenience.

With reusables offered at more locations, monthly checkouts climb to more than 30,000 containers per month.

NAU maintains a container loss rate of only 0.26%, meaning they continue to circulate 99.74% of their inventory since day one of their plastic-free program.

[ 2026]

Further Expansion

Reuse planned for all Sodexo-branded eateries

New USEFULL container styles are designed and launched in collaboration with NAU dining to suit an extended variety of food and drink types, including: