Reusable Rewards
Reusable Rewards is the service that could revolutionize the way young people interact with food delivery, eliminating single use waste from bags, containers, and silverware. By leveraging drop-off automatic wash stations on college campus locations that have a high density of food delivery orders, college students can be empowered to select reusable container options, and incentivized to return them to the wash station for later collection.
Understanding Food Waste
Where is the most food waste occurring?
The two largest areas of waste are residences and restaurants, with 44% of food waste coming from private residences and 33% coming from restaurants
Food delivery is a service that connects restaurants and residences, while adding single use containers/utensils/bags that increase the carbon footprint of the meal
Who Uses Food Delivery?
Mostly younger people: 63% of all users are 18-29 yrs old
Despite convenience needed by student aged population – this population cares about sustainability
“I feel badly throwing the packaging my food comes in away but don’t see an easy alternative”
“I notice when you can recycle the packaging or not, but I feel like delivery never uses reusable stuff”
“Sometimes I just don’t have time to cook, and there’s no way around the single use options”
Contradictions that inspired Reusable Rewards
College students enjoy the convenience of food delivery but value sustainability
College students are always looking for a way to eat outside of the dining hall but are often short on money
Opportunity Statement
There’s an opportunity to provide COLLEGE STUDENTS who frequently use food delivery apps who need the CONVENIENCE of the services they use but value SUSTAINABILITY with alternate services that REDUCE WASTE in terms of containers for food and delivery.
The Container
To develop a successful system with reusable containers in food delivery, the most important aspect is that the experience of eating from the container is positive and adds more value than traditional single-use options. We interviewed college aged students to see what we could learn.
User Interviews: Selected Quotes
“My mom has used them since I was little so it was just what was familiar to me.”
“Snaps shut very loudly and clearly, which provides a sense of peace that it won’t open up and spill all my stuff over the inside of my lunch box.”
“Glass makes it easy to examine the food and see inside. Since it’s microwaveable as well, it’s hassle-free to heat up the food.”
“It’s stackable allowing me to fit more in my fridge.”
“I'll eat straight out of my tupperware sometimes, but it feels weird because they're very container-y.”
“I feel that my plastic containers often deform in the microwave”
“I use plastic containers, I know glass lasts longer and cleans better (no stains), but plastic containers tend to be lighter and less expensive.”
Values Understood
Familiarity matters
Leverage combination of lightweight/low cost plastic, and easy to clean, microwave safe, durable glass
Strong and noticeable seal keeps food fresh longer, and ensures doesn’t spill on the go
Stackable design takes up less space in fridge, might reduce chance of good food thrown away
Find way to help users eat out of something other than a container, without having to dirty their own plates which would minimize convenience
Ideation
We initially considered accordion or foldable designs that could accommodate different sizes, but we found them to be unfamiliar and difficult to use.
We decided to emulate the success of tupperware, however with the inclusion of plastic material base to drive down the cost of each container and to create a more lightweight, portable design.
Through examination of the relative benefits of plastic and glass containers as informed by our research, as well as the feedback of boxy containers being difficult to eat from, the novel lid-plate concept came to life:
Final Container
The Drop Off Auto-Wash Station/App Functionality
The main barrier to reusable containers in delivery systems is the return of those containers to restaurants. We originally considered a system whereby users would return previously used containers to couriers upon their subsequent order through that food delivery app. We quickly realized that this would be ineffective, because we could not be assured that the user would order food soon enough after the initial order for the container to remain sanitary. Additionally, it would not be very efficient for couriers to return to each address to collect later on. We would also be making more work for restaurants, having to clean containers on to-go orders.
This original idea highlighted three main points of emphasis: there needs to be efficiency in the re-collection of these reusable containers for it to be meaningful (minimize GHG emissions by courier vehicles), we need to minimize the hassle of the return of the containers by our users, and not create more work in cleaning these containers for the restaurants that opt into this reusable system.
Having highlighted the intersection of sustainability consciousness and a need for the convenience of food delivery apps that exists in college aged students, we realized that by leveraging a central campus AutoWash drop-off location one could both minimize the hassle of return, and ensure a singular point for a food delivery app courier to collect already-cleaned plates.
We created a low-fidelity sketch of our idea, and asked users for feedback:
User Interviews: Selected Quotes
“I feel like the system would have to be really, really clean. The thought of half-cleaned containers stacked up together outside for days is really gross.”
“It would be really annoying if I had to make a trip to a trash can first, dispose the disposable stuff, and then come back to drop off my container.”
“I would be pretty tempted to just keep the box as another tupperware.”
“I feel like I wouldn’t remember to take it out with me as I leave for the day.”
“You’ve done well to minimize the need for its own trip, but taking it to the campus location is still less convenient than the trash. An incentive could keep people coming back”
Values Understood
Build trust that system is sanitary
Make it convenient to dispose of larger food bits before cleaning
Ensure containers not removed from reusable system by users - intentionally or otherwise
People are more likely to communicate their values when it also helps their wallet
To ensure the retention of the containers in our system, we determined it would be best to charge a placeholder fee to the user account which is removed upon return. After a couple of days, the container will not be able to be returned because there would be reasonable sanitary concerns. To help users avoid this fee, reminders are sent from the app letting you know to pack your container before heading to campus.
Adding some positive reinforcement feels justified, as we want to ensure repeated use of this reusable system despite the risk of the container fee. We envisioned an accrual system that would incentivize you to make use of reusable containers, with increasing free rewards as you go. For college students always looking for a way to eat off campus, this could be the push needed to ensure engagement, while an accrual system allows the incentives to be less costly.
Enhancing our AutoWash Dropoff Hub Design:
Clear Walls
Users can see the cleaning process - earn user trust
Cool process can garner attention and increase user base
Simple Process
One slot for each part of the container
User only needs to touch their container, not the hub itself
Scan machine QR to begin clean, confirm return, receive rewards
Convenient Location
Stationed with trash can clusters - integrate into existing waste disposal system
Users can easily empty their containers of scraps into appropriate bins
Located on campus to make it a pit-stop rather than a trip on its own
