Client Success Story
How The University of Texas at Austin Turned Reuse into Positive Returns in One Term
When The University of Texas at Austin Housing and Dining looked to enhance its to-go dining program, the objective went beyond reducing single-use waste. The university wanted a reusable container solution that could scale across campus, integrate seamlessly into daily operations, and deliver clear value alongside environmental impact.
With Fill it Forward’s Borrow program, University Housing and Dining (UHD) introduced a reusable container program designed to do exactly that: reduce reliance on single-use containers while improving efficiency and the student experience.
As Marissa Cañas, Administrative Associate at UHD, shared:
“Partnering with Fill it Forward’s Borrow Program began as an opportunity to increase sustainable meals on the to-go program this Fall 2025, which aligned UHD’s commitment to sustainability and awareness on campus … Through the course of one term alone, UHD successfully diverted 375.75 pounds of waste and saved 16,158.25 pounds of CO2 emissions with the borrow reusable takeout container program. In addition to this, they reached an incredible return rate of 97% and savings close to $6,500 with the use of the reusable, sustainable containers. All of these metrics are a testament to the program’s accessible inventory tracking dashboard connecting with students and faculty alike using the program’s user-friendly app.”
Since launching the program, UHD has seen strong participation across campus, demonstrating how quickly reuse can become part of everyday student life. Over time, the program has grown into a high-performing initiative with measurable operational, financial, and environmental results.
Turning Daily Operations into Cost Savings
For many institutions, single-use packaging is a recurring operational expense. By shifting to a reusable container program, the UHD team was able to reduce that ongoing spend while maintaining the convenience students expect from a to-go dining program.
With nearly $6,500 in savings during Fall 2025 alone, the ongoing use of reusable containers continues to drive cost reductions over time, with containers being reused hundreds of times.
At the same time, Fill it Forward’s real-time Borrow dashboard in Reuse365 provided full visibility into inventory, usage, and return rates. This allowed UHD to:
- Monitor program performance
- Confidently manage container circulation across dining locations
- Track container savings to date
The result was not just fewer single-use items, but a more controlled, data-informed operation.
Designed for Participation at Scale
A major factor in the program’s success was how easy it was for users to adopt.
Students, staff, and faculty could quickly understand how the Borrow program worked through the Fill it Forward app, which made borrowing and returning containers simple and intuitive. This ease of use removed common barriers to participation and helped normalize reuse as part of everyday campus life.
To support adoption, UHD implemented a comprehensive launch strategy that combined in-person engagement with digital education.
Dining Team members, including Registered Dietitians and Sustainability staff, hosted tabling sessions in dining halls where they walked users through the process, answered questions, and reinforced the program’s benefits.
At the same time, UHD’s Marketing and Communications team developed:
- Instructional videos shared on social media
- Digital displays across dining locations
- Step-by-step guides for both users and cashiers
This multi-channel approach ensured that students encountered the program multiple times and in multiple formats, helping drive both awareness and confidence.
Engagement and Impact Beyond the Launch
What started as a new initiative quickly became part of the campus routine.
The program’s 97% return rate reflects continued engagement from students, staff, and faculty. Users were not just trying the program once. They were continuing to participate and build reuse into their daily habits.
In fact, demand began to exceed the initial program design, with many students expressing interest in increasing usage beyond the current once-per-day limit. That level of engagement signals long-term potential for even greater operational savings and environmental impact over time.
For UHD, one of the most valuable aspects of the Borrow program was the ability to quantify impact across multiple dimensions. Environmental metrics like waste diversion and CO₂ reduction helped support the university’s broader sustainability goals, while operational data such as return rates, usage volume, and cost savings provided a clear, data-backed business case.
The Results
In just one term (Fall 2025), the UHD achieved:
- 97% return rate
- ~$6,500 in cost savings
- 375.75 pounds of waste diverted
- 16,158.25 pounds of CO₂ emissions avoided
The high return rate minimized loss and replacement costs, while the volume of reuses significantly reduced the need for ongoing single-use container purchasing. Together, these outcomes translated into meaningful, trackable savings while demonstrating that reuse can be both operationally efficient and financially viable.
These results are part of a larger, ongoing impact. Since launching the program, UHD has seen strong, sustained participation across the UT Austin campus.
Program impact to date:
The Takeaway
UHD’s Borrow program demonstrates what’s possible when reuse is designed to work for both operations and the user experience.
By making participation simple and measurable, UHD was able to drive strong return rates, reduce ongoing single-use container costs, and create a program that students continued to engage with long after launch.
With nearly $6,500 in savings in a single term, a 97% return rate, and 28,000+ containers borrowed to date, the program demonstrates how reuse can deliver measurable financial, operational, and environmental value at scale.
In recognition of these efforts, The University of Texas at Austin was named a 2025 Fill it Forward Changemaker Award winner in the category of Sustainability Trailblazer. This award celebrates leaders who demonstrate exceptional dedication to waste reduction by implementing innovative solutions and technology that create measurable impact across their communities.
When reuse is easy to adopt and backed by data, it becomes more than a sustainability initiative. It becomes a smarter way to operate.
See how we support our academic and foodservice partners, or connect with us to learn more.
