Reuse & Return Systems

Programs that support a low-waste economy for businesses and consumers need to include reusable products moving in a circular way from business to consumer and back again. While not yet very common this idea is not new: back in the day, milk was delivered in glass bottles and empties were picked up for cleaning and reuse. It's about time we get back to this way of life.

BYO and reuse & return are all important pieces of a circular economy.

Below you will find a list of new, mostly Toronto-based reuse startups. Check their websites or apps for locations of participating restaurants and coffee shops, support their mission of making takeout sustainable and give them a try! Maybe you can even ask your favourite restaurant to consider offering their food in waste-free reuse & return containers.

If you are a business owner, check them out!

Reuse & return containers and cups:

Save you money because you don’t

need to buy disposables

Graphic icon of a customer with a shoppi

Increase customer loyalty by attracting eco conscious shopping and because people come back for return and refill

Make your business

more sustainable

Takeout in reusables: Reselling your takeout containers that come from restaurants, back to restaurants.

Case

linktr.ee/casereuse

A zero waste, plant-based meal kit subscription service delivering fresh ingredients and tasty recipes in reusable and returnable packaging.

Crisper Kits

criskerkits.ca

Take out app that will allow customers to link to the restaurants, order ahead, pick up their food in a reusable container which can be returned within a week.

Inwit

inwit.app

Packt's reusable food packaging allows Toronto's local businesses to sell products (coffee, tea) zero-waste. List of partners on website.

Packt

packt.ca

Suppli allows consumers to enjoy takeout more sustainably from restaurants and food shops with reusable containers which can be returned to a local drop-off partner.

Suppli

mysuppli.ca

Circulr works with amazing brands so that you can start reusing their packaging. When you reuse you earn points for discounts, coupons and gift cards.

Circulr

circulr.ca

Take-out container program which supplies food service providers with reusable cups, containers and management practices to restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and private offices.

DreamZero

dreamzero.ca

Loblaws partnered with Loop to build a circular system to eliminate packaging. The partnership allows Loblaws to offer products in refillable containers. Currently available only online, but soon they will be available in stores, too.

Loop

loopstore.ca

A reusable packaging service providing reusable mailers to businesses to replace single-use mailers and boxes.

Quil Packaging

shopquil.com

Craft on Draft gives businesses a way to offer local craft beverages (kombucha, cold brewed coffee, sparkling water) on tap and eliminate single-use packaging with a draft station (gas, kegerator, maintenance and installation) and refills.

Craft on Draft

craftondraft.com

A reusable takeaway container system for food establishments. Pay a deposit to borrow a container, and receive a refund when you return it.

Friendlier

friendlier.ca

A mobile app designed to replace disposable takeaway items with reusables: coffee cups, takeout containers, and pizza boxes! Muuse partners with coffee shops and restaurants in Toronto.

Muuse

muuse.io/toronto

Get your coffee in a reusable coffee + lid at any partner coffee shop across the city. List of participating cafes on the website.

Reego

reego.ca

Don’t waste Durham created a large scale, app-based, reusable container system for restaurants and schools in the city of Durham, North Carolina, called GreenToGo. They have 575 subscribers, 32 partners, 30 drop off stations and a central wash and redistribution facility. They developed their program in collaboration with the city and the health department and are currently piloting a partnership to use municipal waste management infrastructure.

Check 'em out