The Re:Dish Reusable Container and Dishware Program for Schools

Implementing reuse at scale is critical to mediating the growing waste crisis and ensuring a sustainable future. At Re:Dish, we’re tackling the problem of single-use waste in food service operations with a turnkey reusables program.

Re:Dish is perfect for schools, colleges, universities, and other educational facilities that generate high volumes of disposable food packaging waste. With minimal staff training, end-to-end program support, and a full complement of marketing and educational materials, your school can start making a difference, one meal at a time.

Benefits of Introducing a Reusable Food Container Program:

Act on student concerns about climate change with a visible environmental education program that is easy to implement and follow
Reinforce sustainable behaviors on a daily basis and educate students on the importance of reuse
Reduce your carbon footprint and significantly reduce waste generation and contribute to your school’s broader environmental goals
Improve your food service operations while introducing a better breakfast and lunch experience

Here’s How the Re:Dish Reusables Program Works in Your School:

1. The Re:Dish team will work with your administration to determine the right inventory for your food preparation needs and a delivery and collection schedule that works for your organization.

2. Re:Dish replaces your single-use wares with durable, reusable containers, cups and plates that are cleaned and sterilized to the highest standards. Your students and faculty enjoy their meal as they would normally.

3. After eating, students and faculty simply return them to any of the Re:Dish Drop-Off Bins distributed around your campus, including in cafeterias, classrooms and break rooms.

4. Re:Dish collects the used wares for washing and sterilization at our industrial, state-of-the-art warewashing facility. We restock your inventory as needed, to ensure you have a seamless supply of clean reusables.

Re:Dish Reusables

Re:Dish reusables are made of BPA-free polypropylene, designated as one of the safest plastics by the EPA, named one of the “most benign plastics” by the Clean Production Actions’ Plastics Scorecard, and approved by the FDA. At end-of-life, containers are ground up and used to create lids for new containers, ensuring that the Re:Dish product never ends up in a landfill. Re:Dish reusables are:

Microwave- and freezer-safe
BPA-free
NSF-certified
Secure, sturdy, and stackable
Available in a variety of sizes and styles
Made in the USA

Re:Dish Program Support

At Re:Dish, we know successful sustainability takes a team effort. That’s why we provide schools with end-to-end program support, including:

Training and Support

Easy-to-follow instructions for students, teachers, administrators, and support teams for quick, efficient implementation
Operational guidelines for food service and janitorial teams
DishTrack Training Manual, for instruction on how to monitor inventory and impact

Communications Support

A comprehensive media kit with creative assets and templates to help develop communication materials for students, parents and teachers
Instructional and reinforcement signage for food pick-up areas, around return bins, table tops, and more
Sustainability messaging to report environmental progress to students, faculty, and the community at large

Educational Support

Ready-to-go presentations to introduce the program to students
On-site launch support with Re:Dish Brand Ambassadors, and ongoing education tabling events as needed
Training materials to educate students, staff, and the community on the environmental mission and process

Real Sustainability, Measurable Results

With our integrated dashboard, DishTrack, you can manage your school’s inventory and measure the environmental impact of the program through metrics, such as carbon emissions, waste, and water reduction. Measurable results can be shared throughout the school and integrated into lesson plans to teach and reinforce environmental action.

For example, if 1,000 students use just 1 Re:Dish container per day, your school will realize environmental returns like:

AFTER 1 MONTH

Lbs of disposables saved from landfills

1,659

22,000 containers

Cars taken off the road for a day

191

2,413 kg of CO2e not emitted

80

Bathtubs of water saved

3,368 gallons of water not used

AFTER 1 YEAR

13,572

Lbs of disposables saved from landfills

180,000 containers

Cars taken off the road for a day

1,566

19,741 kg of CO2e not emitted

656

Bathtubs of water saved

27,553 gallons of water not used

*Source: A comparison of Re:Dish vs Molded Fiber (compostable) containers, based on data from the Single-Use Material Decelerator (SUM’D) UP Scorecard and an independent LCA by RRS completed in 2021.

An Investment with Real Returns

Re:Dish represents a new kind of investment for your school: one that delivers economic, educational and environmental returns. Our high-quality, reusable containers are rented at a fixed, per-student charge that is comparable to single-use disposables and the program includes:

● A full-service waste reduction solution
● On-site delivery of clean reusable wares and collection of used ones
● Washing, sanitizing, drying, and repackaging
● Communication, and implementation support and materials
● Real-time usage and environmental metrics

We’ll provide all of the resources, services, and support to ensure the Re:Dish program is a success!

Re:Dish Today to Reshape Tomorrow

Re:Dish currently serves the NYC Tri-State area and has plans for expansion into other markets. If you’re ready for your school to start Re:Dishing, or are just interested in more information, fill out our contact form or email us at info@redish.com and start reshaping the future.