Making the Switch:
How Venues Decide to Integrate Reuse Into Their Business Operations
If you’ve ever wondered what factors influence venues’ decision to switch from single-use to reusable serviceware, you’re not alone. With support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Re-X Before Recycling Prize, Upstream investigated this complex question by talking with the folks who interact daily with reuse systems and oversee their implementation—reuse service providers, venues, and foodservice companies. We identified several readiness factors determining venues’ preparedness to adopt reuse strategies.
Single-use food and beverage serviceware poses significant financial, environmental, and health costs, and exponentially so in high-volume venues.
Reusable packaging, on the other hand, provides an opportunity to reduce waste, save money, and improve customer satisfaction. While an increasing number of venues have implemented reusables in the past several years, most have yet to adopt a reuse system. The expansion of the reuse sector and a venue’s ability to integrate reusable packaging systems into their operations involves two key components. First, venues must agree to using reusables in their unique operational context, which requires buy-in from decision-makers. Second, after the initial agreement to implement such a system, a reuse system must be designed for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.