Wildcats Choose to Reuse

If you’ve eaten in one of Northwestern’s campus dining halls lately, you are likely familiar with the reusable purple OZZI to-go container. These containers are not only a handy and secure way to transport your meal, they also help make Northwestern a little more sustainable. 

Dining has changed a lot over the past year with so much food taken as carryout or delivery. Generally, a to-go meal option generates a lot of additional waste as the food is packaged in single-use, disposable products. While the reusable OZZI had been an option in the past, Northwestern Dining conducted a full-scale rollout of it in the fall of 2020.  

"We were amazed how quickly the students embraced the OZZI containers. The ease of an OZZI allowed students to quickly and easily grab their food and go with minimal impact to their normal dining experiences," said Sarah Levesque, Sustainability Director, Compass Group. 

During fall quarter, use of OZZI containers helped the University avoid nearly two tons of waste that would have been otherwise sent to a landfill. In addition to reducing waste, the reusable container avoids the on-going costs associated with purchasing, transporting, and disposing of common single-use containers. 

"OZZI means that, even as busy college students, we can do our part in reducing single-use plastic waste on-campus," said McCormick and Weinberg senior Lauren Simitz.

All residential students have been provided with an OZZI, which they bring to the dining halls at mealtime. Used containers can be exchanged for a fresh one at every meal. By using and returning your OZZI, Northwestern students are helping to reduce Northwestern’s impact on the environment. Learn more about how you can reduce your impact and live sustainably.