Campus Dining at Northern Arizona University Partners with USEFULL to Launch Plastic-Free Takeout

Northern Arizona University is the first higher education institution in Arizona to implement a required reusable container system at select campus restaurants through a partnership with USEFULL, the only tech-enabled, plastic-free takeout option for the college dining market. NAU Campus Dining now offers USEFULL’s stainless steel takeout containers at three retail dining locations—Lemon Grass Kitchen, Turnip the Greens, and Cobrizo Mexican Grill—with plans to expand to additional campus dining facilities in the coming year. The first year of this program is fully funded by NAU’s Green Fund. The Green Fund is NAU’s main source for sustainability funding and allows students to utilize fee money to make the campus a better place for themselves, their peers, and future students.

Prior to implementing USEFULL, NAU Campus Dining offered a reusable plastic takeout container program to reduce the need for single-use packaging. However, that program experienced high loss rates, with 87 percent of the reusable containers never returned, and likely thrown in the trash. To address these loss rates and transition to a truly plastic-free takeout system, NAU has converted to USEFULL’s plastic-free reusable program.

Students simply download the USEFULL app (for iOS and Android) to participate. The app is integrated with NAU’s TouchNET campus card system, making the sign-up process seamless.

Checking out containers is as simple as checking out a library book: students scan the QR code on the bottom of the container and go. The app allows students to monitor their personal impact and the NAU community can view campus-wide waste, emissions, and water reduction on USEFULL's Impact Dashboard. 

This partnership marks an exciting new chapter in Northern Arizona University’s sustainability efforts. In just the first year of partnership, NAU is projected to keep more than 40 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air and more than 12 tons of waste out of landfills. This also helps NAU Campus Dining align itself with the University’s Climate Action Plan.

“We are excited to provide students and other NAU community members this opportunity to take action toward reducing waste by simply dining at these popular restaurants, checking out the reusable containers, and returning them when they are done,” said William Brandt, Campus Dining Marketing Director at NAU.

USEFULL is working with its partners and customers to build a zero-waste takeout future, and create lasting, sustainable behavior change at college dining operations. With a goal of reducing waste, water, and emissions via green takeout solutions, USEFULL is helping campuses across the country make single-use takeout a thing of the past.