Case Study: Brandeis University boosts reusable container returns with Topanga's ReusePass

Brandeis University - Customer Case Study

Brandeis University and their dining partner, Harvest Table Culinary Group, were struggling with an inefficient, analog reusable container program that lacked student accountability and data tracking, leading to high container loss. They needed a scalable solution that could integrate with their retail dining operations to effectively reduce waste. They partnered with Topanga and implemented their ReusePass system to overcome these challenges.

Topanga provided a technology-driven solution via its ReusePass platform, which features a critical Grubhub integration for retail locations and uses SMS notifications for accountability. The implementation across multiple dining halls and retail spots led to outstanding results, including a 98% container return rate and 93% student participation. The program's measurable impact includes each container being used 24 times on average, cutting the cost per use by 74% compared to compostables.

Brandeis University

Allison Deyo

Sustainability Manager of the Harvest Table Culinary Group