Futuristic track-and-trace reusable containers don’t get stolen, save planet to boot

Even the best environmental solution won’t make a difference if it’s not practical to use. The biggest challenge in implementing a reusable container program on a college campus has always been multi-fold: Getting students to use them, getting them to return them and making the whole experience seamless and convenient.

This fall, Sodexo is using new tools to meet the challenge, courtesy of the Topanga platform, ReusePass, which works as an app to ensure reusable containers get returned, and therefore, reused.

Topanga is made up of former operators of a closed-loop market in Los Angeles, in which they delivered groceries to customers in glass containers, “like the milkman,” according to the Topanga website.

After custom building technology to keep track of the containers, the Topanga team found that the technology could help other organizations—like college dining programs—go circular, which has led to partnerships with more than 40 colleges and universities.

Sodexo tested Topanga’s ReusePass at Saint Mary’s College of California operated by Sodexo’s Good Eating Company, and the results were quite good, to put it mildly: a 97% return rate with 11 uses per container so far. The program has reportedly been successful as a conversation-starter for students to think about their usage of chinaware or disposables. This aligns with Saint Mary College of California’s commitment to sustainability, a commitment and even mission that many college and universities share.

The Sodexo-served schools using ReusePass include SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, New York; University of Maine, Orono, Maine; University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC; Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas; Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia and Saint Mary’s College of California.

"We are fully committed to advancing sustainability on campus and our partners must share this common goal in supporting Sodexo and the clients we serve,” said Director of Sustainability & CSR for Sodexo Campus Kate Shearer, in a statement. “Through our collaboration with Topanga, we aim to ignite transformative changes by promoting small actions, such as transitioning to reusable containers, that will drive significant impacts over time. It is our goal to empower students to adopt sustainable practices in Sodexo-led dining halls and Topanga will play a crucial role in achieving this ongoing aspiration.”