Starship and Topanga Launch Reusable Packaging for Robo-Deliveries at College

Starship Technologies has teamed up with Topanga.io to launch a reusable food packaging program at U.S. colleges, starting with George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

Through the ReusePass program, students can select reusable containers for their food orders through the Starship app. Orders will be packaged in these containers for mobile pickup, kiosk orders, or robot delivery.

Containers are tracked using RFID tech and sanitized before being reused. Students have three days to return the container to a designated drop-off bin. 

Students can choose reusable containers for their food orders via the Starship app.

Beyond the Starship app, students can also sign up for a free ReusePass account at participating locations on the company’s site. From there, they can scan a unique QR code from their Apple Wallet or a screenshot on their mobile device.

Topanga’s program is already live on over 65 campuses and will serve 1.2 million meals in reusable containers this year.

Sustainability success on college campuses

While reusable food packaging hasn’t gained widespread adoption due to cost and scalability challenges in the restaurant industry, it is finding success on college campuses. In these closed environments, where sustainability is a key focus, the program is proving effective. Over 100,000 students have already used ReusePass, diverting 123,500 pounds of waste and avoiding the carbon footprint of single-use containers.

Starship has already completed more than 7 million deliveries globally. “Students are adapting quickly,” says Chris Neider, VP of business development at Starship. “We’re excited to roll this out at George Mason and look forward to expanding to more campuses.”