3 Inspiring Success Stories of Reusable Solutions at Universities
Relevo, as a leading provider of reusable solutions in university catering, is already present at over 100 university locations and works closely with numerous student unions across Germany. Our deposit-free, digital system offers a sustainable and easy-to-use solution, perfectly tailored to the specific needs of cafeterias, dining halls, and campus catering. The success of our system in practice is illustrated by three success stories in collaboration with student unions.
1. Student Union Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate
Even before the pandemic, the Student Services of Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate (STWNO) had implemented measures to reduce packaging waste, such as replacing disposable cups with porcelain deposit cups in early 2020. When the pandemic forced all cafeterias to close and later reopen for take-away only, up to 1,500 disposable containers were used daily, making it clear that a new solution was needed.
Serving around 60,000 students and staff across Regensburg, Deggendorf, Landshut, Passau, Straubing, and Pfarrkirchen, the STWNO integrated Relevo’s deposit-free reusable system into their operations seamlessly. Even after on-site dining resumed, the system remained popular, saving 330,000 disposable containers by April 2022.
> Learn more about how this was achieved in our success story on the Student Union Lower Bavaria/Upper Palatinate.
2. Student Union Potsdam
Disposable packaging not only creates a lot of waste but also increases disposal costs and administrative effort. The Student Union Potsdam was looking for a solution that was both eco-friendly and practical. A traditional deposit system was ruled out due to return logistics at the registers. After thorough research, Relevo’s reusable system has now been used since February 2022 in all seven cafeterias and eight coffee bars.
In just the first five months, 10,525 Relevo containers were issued. The key question was how to integrate a sustainable system seamlessly into daily operations without extra effort for staff or inconvenience for guests. Relevo provided a solution that met all requirements. Additionally, since fall 2022, students can pre-order meals via app and pick them up in Relevo containers from dormitory vending machines. This allows for 24/7 service and demonstrates how digitalization, sustainability, and practicality can be effectively combined.
> Discover more about our collaboration with the Student Union Potsdam in our success story.
3. Student Union Aachen
Als Betreiber der Mensen in Aachen und Jülich versorgt das Studierendenwerk Aachen rund 64.000 Studierende der Hochschulen in der Region und beschäftigt dafür etwa 500 Mitarbeitende. Mit zehn Mensen, sieben Cafeterien und vier Coffee-Bars bietet es zahlreiche Verpflegungsmöglichkeiten. Unser pfandloses Konzept wurde von dem Studentenwerk als nachhaltige und flächendeckende Lösung für Take-away-Mahlzeiten.
Dabei verfolgen sie seit jeher das Ziel, sozialverträgliches und regional verankertes Mensaessen zu fairen Preisen mit moderner Infrastruktur und nachhaltiger Ausrichtung zu kombinieren. Am Ende überzeugte das Studierendenwerk Aachen unsere Mehrweg-To-Go-Lösung, weil sie nicht nur pfandlos funktioniert, sondern auch App-basiert genutzt wird. Auf diese Weise müssen Studierende und Besucher der Mensen keine weiteren Karten oder Ausweise mit sich führen, sondern benötigen lediglich ihr Smartphone. Als zusätzlichen Anreiz für die Verwendung von Mehrweg hat sich der Mensabetrieb außerdem dazu entschieden, für Einweggeschirr einen Aufpreis zu verlangen. Zum Start der Umstellung auf das Relevo-System hat der Allgemeine Studierendenausschuss zusammen mit Studierenden eigenständig verschiedene Videos produziert, um bei den ersten Schritten mit Relevo zu helfen.
Operating cafeterias in Aachen and Jülich, the Student Union Aachen serves around 64,000 students and employs roughly 500 staff members. With ten dinning halls, seven cafeterias, and four coffee kiosks, they offer a wide range of dining options. Their deposit-free approach adopted Relevo’s reusable system as a sustainable, comprehensive solution for take-away meals.
The goal has always been to combine socially responsible, regionally sourced meals at fair prices with modern infrastructure and sustainability. Relevo’s app-based, deposit-free system convinced them because it eliminates the need for additional cards or IDs—students and visitors only need their smartphone. As an extra incentive to use reusable containers, the cafeterias also introduced a surcharge for disposable packaging. At the system’s launch, the Student Council and students created instructional videos to support initial usage.
> Learn more about how Relevo’s reusable system was received by students and staff in our Success Story about the Student Union Aachen.
Interested in bringing this to your university? Schedule a meeting with us today!