Case Study: Investa’s “Sustain-a-Bowl Pantry” Creates Measurable Impact Through Reuse

As part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability and waste reduction, Investa has taken a significant step towards eliminating single-use packaging from their workplace. Partnering with Returnr, Investa launched the Sustain-a-Bowl Pantry - a reusable container program designed to make waste-free dining simple, convenient, and rewarding for their employees.

The initiative was introduced in July 2025 as a part of Plastic Free July, a global movement that encourages individuals and organisations to reduce plastic waste. The Sustain-a-bowl Pantry Investa’s corporate offices in Sydney and Melbourne, provides employees with Returnr’s reusable bowls, cups, and containers, which can be borrowed, used, and returned.

The goal was to make reuse more common practice and demonstrate how small, collective actions can create measurable environmental benefits.

Launching a Workplace Reuse Revolution

Investa recognised that much of the waste generated in office environments comes from single-use food packaging from coffee cups, takeaway containers, and disposable cutlery that often end up in landfill or contaminate recycling and organics bins.

By introducing a closed-loop reuse system powered by Returnr, Investa empowered their employees to access reusable containers from the Sustain-a-bowl Pantry, to borrow and use them for their meals or coffees, and return them for cleaning and reuse.

This approach eliminated the need for disposable food and beverage packaging, and created a tangible way for people to participate in sustainability every day.

Measurable Results After Just One Month

In just one month, the Sustain-a-Bowl Pantry initiative showed the powerful impact of switching from single-use to reuse. The results speak for themselves:
•    Over 1,000 takeaway containers and cups diverted from landfill
•    7.6 kilograms of landfill waste eliminated in July (compared to July 2024)
•    55% reduction in mixed recycling contamination (compared to the April–June 2025 average)
•    27% reduction in organic waste contamination (compared to the April–June 2025 average)

These outcomes demonstrate how quickly a reuse program can generate positive environmental and behavioural change. By replacing disposable options with Returnr’s reusable system, Investa not only reduced waste, but also improved the quality of their recycling and composting streams.

Cleaner waste streams are a clear indicator of growing awareness and responsibility among employees - people are thinking more carefully about where their waste goes and making conscious decisions to support the organisation’s ESG goals.

A product for every use case

Returnr’s extensive range of reusable packaging options has been a key factor in the success of Investa’s Sustain-a-Bowl Pantry. With an assortment of trays, bowls, cups, and containers designed to suit every meal occasion — from morning coffees to takeaway lunches and snacks — employees have access to a reusable solution for every use case.

This flexibility has made it easier for staff to fully replace single-use packaging in their daily routines, eliminating disposable coffee cups, salad bowls, bags and takeaway trays across the workplace. By offering a container for every type of food and beverage need, Returnr has enabled Investa to tackle waste at its source, ensuring that convenience and sustainability go hand in hand.

Looking Ahead

The early results from the Sustain-a-Bowl Pantry are promising. Continued engagement, education, and expansion across sites can further amplify impact, demonstrating how reuse can become a seamless part of daily life in the workplace.

For Returnr, partnerships like this illustrate what’s possible when businesses commit to circular thinking. Re-use is a cultural shift towards mindful consumption, operational efficiency, and collective responsibility.

Investa’s story shows that sustainable change doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with a bowl, a cup, and a willingness to do things differently.

About Returnr

Returnr partners with forward-thinking businesses to eliminate single-use packaging through reusable packaging. Designed for shared use, reuse, and convenience, Returnr helps organisations meet their sustainability goals while empowering individuals to take meaningful climate action — one reusable container at a time.