Why Schools Choose
Fill it Forward's Borrow Reusable Container Program
Across North America, campuses are rethinking the way they serve food. As institutions work to reduce single-use waste and meet ambitious sustainability goals, reusable container programs are becoming an increasingly popular solution.
Launching a successful reuse program takes more than replacing disposable containers. It requires a system that is simple for dining teams to manage, easy for students to use, and backed by the tools needed to measure program success.
At Fill it Forward, our mission is to inspire the world to reuse. Borrow was created to help campuses shift from single-use packaging to reusable containers with confidence, combining interactive technology, meaningful engagement, and dedicated support into one complete program.
How Borrow is Built for Real Campus Operations
A successful reusable container program needs to fit seamlessly into existing dining operations. Borrow is designed to simplify day-to-day management while giving administrators the visibility they need to keep programs running smoothly.
With real-time inventory tracking, dining teams can monitor container circulation, see cost-savings, identify losses, and better understand usage patterns. Our Borrow QR stickers can be applied to any reusable container, giving institutions the flexibility to use the containers they already own or choose the option that best fits their dining needs.
That same flexibility extends to scale. Borrow is built to grow alongside any campus, whether launching a pilot program in a single dining hall or expanding across an entire operation—giving sustainability goals room to evolve without the program being outgrown.
Designed to Engage Students
The long-term success of any reusable container program depends on participation. Borrow encourages students to build lasting reuse habits by making every container return part of a larger experience.
Using the Fill it Forward app, students can track their personal impact, see their total reuses, participate in challenges, and see the collective difference their campus community is making. Every scan also unlocks a charitable donation towards clean water, reforestation or nutrition projects around the world—turning everyday dining choices into direct, measurable support for causes students care about.
That combination of personal tracking and real-world impact is what turns reuse into a habit rather than a one-off choice. At Montclair State University, this played out clearly: Borrow became more than a reusable container program, helping establish reuse as part of the student experience. Strong participation and familiarity with the Fill it Forward app made reuse a daily habit for students, building the momentum that later supported the introduction of personalized reusable bottles across campus.
That momentum shows up in the numbers, too. Across institutions using the Borrow program, many campuses have achieved an average 98% container return rate, and 91% of students say they would recommend the program to a friend.
Everything You Need for a Successful Launch
Launching a new sustainability initiative can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Every Borrow program includes access to launch resources designed to support both staff and students from day one. Marketing tools help build awareness across campus, while onboarding guidance and operational resources make implementation straightforward.
We offer 24/7 priority support, ensuring questions are answered quickly and your program continues running smoothly long after launch.
Measure and Share Your Impact
One of the biggest advantages of a technology-enabled reuse program is the ability to see measurable results.
Borrow tracks every reuse, providing institutions with environmental metrics that demonstrate the impact of replacing single-use packaging. These insights can support sustainability reporting, campus communications, and ongoing program improvements while helping celebrate milestones with your campus community.
Instead of estimating your impact, the Reuse365 Borrow Dashboard will offer you real data to show how your reuse program is making a difference.
Trusted by Campuses Across North America
Borrow supports colleges and universities in North America working to reduce waste, engage students, and create more sustainable dining experiences.
From small pilot programs to campus-wide initiatives, institutions choose Borrow because it combines intuitive technology with practical operational tools and ongoing support. The result is a reusable container program that is simple to manage, rewarding to use, and built for long-term success.
One example is Georgia State University, where Borrow has helped the campus achieve a 98% container return rate while generating more than $30,000 in cost savings. It’s proof that a well-designed reusable container program can deliver measurable environmental and financial benefits.
Ready to Bring Reuse to Your Campus?
Creating a successful reusable container program doesn’t have to be complicated. With technology that tracks reuses and environmental impact and a dedicated support team, Borrow helps make the transition from single-use to reuse simple.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore a reusable container program or looking to expand an existing dining reuse initiative, Borrow provides the tools and support to help your campus build a culture of reuse—one container at a time.