Reuse Case Study Explorer
The case for reuse is strong. Many dozens of case studies from pilots and projects around the world and across many sectors prove cost and environmental savings. In order to illustrate the potential for reuse in every documented scenario, Upstream has gathered this filterable database of reuse case studies. By using the filters, you can identify and/or download all case studies pertaining to the most common fields of inquiry. (Discover more sorting tags by clicking into each case study).
If you know of a case study you do not find here, please let us know and we will happily add it! If you would like further information about any of these case studies or would like to further explore how such data can inform your reuse operations, contact us.
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Keep Scotland Beautiful: Highland Cup Movement
Project size: 22 participating businesses
Dishwashing model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: Grant - Bring it Back Fund
Material: plastic
Return rate: 92%
Disposables Avoided: 1,051 (7 months)
Cost Savings: n/a
ReThink Disposable: Lola’s Chicken Shack
Capacity: 48
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: mixed
Disposables Avoided: 65,022 (annual)
Cost Savings: $13,205 (annual net)
Break-Even: 15 days - cups, 12 months - straws
ReThink Disposable: Cybelle’s Pizza
Capacity: 20
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: none
Material: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 162,946 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,579 (annual net)
Break-Even: 3.8 months
ReThink Disposable: Manila Eatery
Capacity: 35
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: plastic, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 54,507 (annual)
Cost Savings: $4,693 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1.3 months
ReThink Disposable: Skip the Stuff Case Study
Project Size: 20 restaurants
Disposables Avoided: 1,578,769 (annual)
Single-use Reduction: 94%
ReThink Disposable: Shish Grill
Capacity: 30
Dishwashing model: 3 compartment sink
Funding Source: none
Material: glass, plastic, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 73,559 (annual)
Cost Savings: $974 (annual net)
Break-Even: unknown
ReThink Disposable: San Carlos Youth Center
Capacity: 130
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: unknown
Material: durable non-plastic
Disposables Avoided: 18,898 (annual)
Cost Savings: $719 (annual net)
Break-Even: 17.7 months
ReThink Disposable: Ballast Coffee
Capacity: 30
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: metal, glass
Return Rate: 75%
Disposables Avoided: 12,369 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,263 (annual net)
Break-Even: 4.3 months
ReThink Disposable: House of Dim Sum
Capacity: 84
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: ReThink Disposable
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 2,206,277 (annual)
Cost Savings: $33,561 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1.7 weeks
ReThink Disposable: The Warfield
Venue Size: 2250
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 93%
Disposables Avoided: 204,800 (annual)
Cost Savings: $33,000 annual profit due to 3% sustainability fee
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: The Fillmore
Venue Size: 1199
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 89% (2 months)
Disposables Avoided: 16,400 (2 months) / 176,200 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,400 (annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: August Hall
Venue Size: 951
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 91% (3.5 months)
Disposables Avoided: 24,500 (3.5 months) / 232,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $29,700 (annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: Franciscan Charities of Newark
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: donations
Material: glass, metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 936,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $47,973 (annual net)
Break-Even: n/a
ReThink Disposable: Jean’s Cafe
Capacity: 30
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: unknown
Material: ceramic, metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 32,898 (annual)
Cost Savings: $2,063 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1 month
ReThink Disposable: Koreana Rittenhouse Square
Capacity: 25
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: unknown
Material: ceramic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 90,669 (annual)
Cost Savings: $3,109 (annual net)
Break-Even: 3.8 months
ReThink Disposable: Truro Community Kitchen
Capacity: 288
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: unknown
Material: plastic
Disposables Avoided: 18,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $6,700 (annual net)
Break-Even: 5.5 months
ReThink Disposable: House of Bread
Capacity: 250
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: donated dishware
Material: metal, ceramic, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 123,500 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,643 (annual net)
Break-Even: unknown
ReThink Disposable: Cedar Lake Triathlons
Event Size: 100-participant races
Funding Source: unknown
Material: plastic, silicon
Return Rate: 70-91%
Disposables Avoided: 600
Cost Savings: unknown
Re:Dish: Walpole Public Schools
Project Size: 3,700 student school district
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: unknown
Material: plastic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 396,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: unknown
Break-Even: unknown
City of Tallinn: Youth Song & Dance Festival
Audience Size: 125,000
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: Municipal
Material: plastic
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 500,000
Cost Savings: unknown
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