A reusable lunch container program in Nova Scotia schools is set to grow after Divert NS awarded $150,000 to Friendlier, a company that specializes in sustainable packaging.
The funding will support the expansion of reusable food containers through the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program during the 2026-27 school year, while also helping develop infrastructure to collect, wash, sanitize, and recirculate containers within the province.
The program is delivered in partnership with Chartwells, a division of Compass Group Canada, which provides meal services at participating schools. Students use the reusable containers for school lunches and return them after meals to be cleaned and reused.
The initiative will expand from 22 schools to 26 schools this year, reducing the use of single-use plastic packaging and supporting Nova Scotia’s circular economy.
According to Friendlier, the program’s first year avoided the use of more than 181,000 single-use containers, diverted more than 10,500 kilograms of plastic waste, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25,000 kilograms, and saved roughly 1.45 million litres of water.
Friendlier and Chartwells expect more than 400,000 container reuses across participating schools during the upcoming school year. Results from the program, including cost savings and operational findings, will be shared with the province to explore broader adoption across Nova Scotia.
