The success of Renison’s eco-container program
In 2025, Renison University College partnered with the Sustainability Action Fund (SAF) to provide reusable eco-containers to their incoming first year residents for free. Upon move-in, each student receives a Renison University College eco-token carabiner which can be traded in for an eco-container at Renison Food Services, reducing plastic and cardboard waste from single-use takeout containers. Once their meal is finished, they return the container to the cafeteria to be cleaned and reused, receiving the carabiner again in return. This can be exchanged for another eco-container, allowing the cycle of waste reduction to continue. Inspired by the success of a similar eco-container program in main campus residence buildings, this initiative was introduced to address growing sustainability and accessibility challenges observed in the college. As more students opt to eat in their rooms or on main campus due to scheduling and accessibility needs, Renison wanted to make sure a sustainable option was available.
The Renison eco-container program has been a huge success. The Renison Food Services team has reported a 30% reduction in disposable paper containers since introducing free eco-containers, with most of the disposables being used for catered events instead of everyday meals. Additionally, no eco-containers have been found in the recycling or waste streams at Renison, which has historically been an issue at other campus residences. Over 80% of students at Renison use the eco-container program, contributing to an overall project success rate of 95%.
Following the program’s introduction, Renison banned all other residence dishware from leaving the cafeteria. This change helped prevent the loss of plates and bowls, saving over $1,000 in replacement costs.
Student feedback about the eco-container program over the past year has been incredibly positive. Many students find the system easy to use and especially helpful during busy weeks, appreciating the ability to store food for later. One student shared:
I really liked this idea! It's sustainable, dishes don't get lost, students can easily use it, and it creates less waste! … It was a great help especially for student practicing Ramadan since it allowed us to choose what foods we wanted and also keep it protected until it was time to break fast (especially when iftar was after cafeteria hours). Thank you!
Thanks to the success of this project with the Sustainability Action Fund, Renison will continue to provide eco-containers free of charge to incoming first year students. Looking ahead, there is hope that this model can be expanded to other college residences, further increasing the impact of eco-containers and supporting waste reduction across campus.
If you are interested in learning more, you can read about Renison’s eco-container program on their website.
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