SUNY New Paltz

Key Results

In the first six months of ReusePass, SUNY New Paltz experienced:

• 97% average return rate
• $47K+ savings on single-use packaging costs
• 130K+ single-user containers saved from the landfill
• 2-3x weekly uses per user and a 5-day cycle from one use to another

Topanga has worked out better than I could have imagined. We took our reusable container program to the next level thanks to Topanga. The support and setup teams are amazing. The dashboard and analytics that you get as an operator are so helpful. My program went from a 40% return rate to 97%. I recommend this to any program looking to make a serious impact on sustainability and single use waste.
‍– Michael Cavalieri, Resident District Manager, SUNY New Paltz

Introduction

The State University of New York at New Paltz (SUNY New Paltz) is a public university with a 6K+ student body. The Soxedo dining team wanted a long-term reusables solution with strong student engagement and no negative impact on diner experience, eventually enabling them to phase out all dining disposables.

Problem

SUNY New Paltz already had a reusables program, but the analog-token system wasn’t working for their students or dining operators. They were losing unreturned containers, saw low diner adoption, and couldn’t expand the program into mobile-ordering environments with confidence. Sodexo knew they needed a solution that could scale and meet the culinary program’s operational and environmental goals.

Solution

SUNY New Paltz and Sodexo loved what ReusePass had to offer: the first-to-market program with RFID scanning for automated container processing, industry-leading return rates, a direct integration with GrubHub, and a focus on student engagement with pre-made Marketing signage and automated SMS messaging. It was especially impactful that students could continue to place GrubHub orders and choose to reuse in just one click - no friction added!

Program Design and Setup

To help SUNY New Paltz prepare for the ReusePass launch, the Topanga team conducted a site visit with operational training and helped strategize the smoothest program configuration. The Sodexo dining team was grateful for the chance to ask all remaining questions, ensuring they felt ready for ReusePass day one.

To minimize the dining team’s workload, they adopted RFID technology for passive container scan-in at certain dining locations. Two of the RFID readers were installed directly on dishwashers, with one above a dining room dish belt.

The team also took advantage of the pre-made Marketing signage from Topanga, placing signs in key locations to increase student interest and excitement leading up to the ReusePass launch.

Program Launch

ReusePass launched at three dining facilities (two retail, one residential) on the SUNY New Paltz campus as an optional program with a $5 singe-use surcharge. Orders are accepted via GrubHub mobile order-ahead, plus in-person pay to enter and in-person order at station models.

Five container types, a combination of those re-tagged with Topanga tracking from their existing inventory and newly ordered for ReusePass, were available to diners at launch. Students return the containers in strategically-placed return bins or directly onto the dish-belt in their dining facility. If this fails to happen, students face a $5.00 late charge.

All throughout the launch, Topanga’s live customer support handled student inquires and questions, alleviating any concerns or confusion about the new program and increasing positive sentiment.

10/10 service! I was a little worried at first but your team took all my worries away & they responded back super quickly! Thanks for all your help guys!
‍– SUNY New Paltz ReusePass Diner

Results

Since the ReusePass launch in August ‘24, SUNY New Paltz has seen tremendous success. They have a 97% average container return rate with over $47,000 saved from reduced single-use packaging costs. By choosing to reuse, students have kept 130,000+ containers from the landfill with a 5-day container check-out cycle (assets are returned within 3 days, then checked out again in 5). There are over 4,000 students enrolled, representing more than 65% of the SUNY New Paltz student body, and each user participants an average of 2-3 times a week.

Program Expansion

The ReusePass program has proved to be even more popular than expected. To meet dishwashing needs and return convenience, a new dishwasher and additional return receptacles are being installed. SUNY New Paltz also recently launched a ReusePass Campus Ambassador Program to maintain adoption momentum and allow passionate students to advocate for reuse. This partnership - via content creation, campus tabling, and more - will set ReusePass at SUNY New Paltz up for continued success, allowing students to empower each-other around sustainable decision-making.