UNC Greensboro launches plastic-free takeout scheme for campus dining in partnership with USEFULL

UNC Greensboro has launched a new plastic-free takeout scheme for on campus dining in partnership with specialist USEFULL. 

The reuse scheme offers stainless steel containers that can be used for dining on campus as part of wider ambitions to become a zero-waste campus by 2050. 

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) is the second University of North Carolina System the partner with USEFULL on a plastic-free scheme, after the company partnered with UNC Wilmington earlier this year.

At UNC Wilmington, USEFULL replaced a plastic container reuse system that had a 96 percent loss rate, making it financially unsustainable. 

Under the USEFULL scheme, students can check out containers using their Transact Campus ID Cards or mobile credentials. Containers must be returned within a set timeframe to avoid a late fee, similar to a library system.

The technology-enabled platform offers tracking and reporting, allowing staff to monitor the impact of the scheme with detailed metrics on waste reduction, water conservation, and emissions prevention.

“Transitioning away from plastic toward plastic-free reusables is a major step forward for UNCG,” comments Aimee Langford, Chartwells Resident District Manager at UNCG Dining Services. “With USEFULL’s enhanced Transact and CBORD integrations, operational ease will only continue to improve, making this partnership especially valuable for our Transact-enabled campus.”