Are there specific steps I need to follow to use the reusable box?

a) "Bring your own box": Guests bring their own box if they plan to take food away.

b) "Borrow Studiwerk-Mainz boxes for 2€" at any cash register. If you don't have a box with you, we have rental boxes available at the cash register in all our cafeterias and cafés for a 2.00 € deposit.

1. You can borrow one of the Studiwerk-Mainz boxes for 2€ at cash register in the canteens.
2. After use, the cleaned Studiwerk-Mainz box can be returned to any cash register during opening hours.
3. The deposit amount will be refunded at the cash register upon return.

Fill it once, please! | Contactless handover
The employees of our catering establishments will accept your box on a tray without contact and fill the reusable box with the food you want to take away.

Transferring food | Necessary in these cases

• Paying at self-service checkouts
• Food that is weighed (e.g., salad from the salad bar)

Here's how it works:

1. Select and pay for food – use the usual plates or bowls.
2. Transfer to your own box – after paying, you can transfer your food into your Studiwerk box or your own box and take it away!

Return | at the cash register
You can return our reusable boxes at the cash registers of all cafeterias and cafés. Our rental boxes must be returned at the cash register so that the deposit value can be refunded.

Here's how it works:

1. You open your box for inspection by our cafeteria team.
2. If the bowl is in an acceptable condition (scraped clean, no mold), please close the bowl again. (If not, we won't take the box back!)
3. Hand the bowl to the cashier. They will refund your money, or you can borrow another box.

Cleaning | Please rinse once!
To avoid contamination of the packaging, the reusable box should be cleaned after consuming the food, like any other dishes, especially if the packaging is carried around for a while.

Heavy mold growth | no return
If contamination (heavy mold growth, etc.) means we can no longer reuse our reusable box, the return will be refused. The box should then be disposed of as damaged. The deposit amount will be retained by our cash registers.

Damaged | no return
If a reusable box is so damaged that it can no longer be used for its intended purpose, the return will be refused, the box will be disposed of as damaged, and the deposit amount will be retained.

Are there any restrictions on the size or material of ‘my box’?
There are no restrictions on the choice of reusable packaging that you bring from home. As our university catering staff do not come into contact with the material, it is not relevant for us. You can simply choose which reusable containers you would like to bring according to your personal preferences.

Let's protect the environment together by bringing our ‘own box’ from home. Disposable packaging produces a lot of waste for a short period of use. In the future, disposable packaging will also become more expensive. This would also increase the price for which food is bought. You can protect the environment and save money in the long term by bringing and using your ‘own box’. 

Will these continue to be offered or will they be phased out?

Disposable packaging will continue to be used. In future, they will no longer be found next to the products (e.g. bread rolls, cakes...), but at the checkout. Later, disposable packaging will no longer be free of charge. From 1 January 2025 at the latest, every single piece of disposable packaging will cost money.

Tell others about your experiences with the reusable system.
We are also interested in your experiences.
Write to hochschulgastronomie@studierendenwerk-mainz.de, including a picture if you like.

Are there specific locations in the canteen or other facilities where I can buy the packaging?

You can borrow the StudiwerkMainz can in every catering facility. But you can also keep them. You do not have to return them.
You can borrow the box at the cash desk in each catering facility:
On the JGU campus Central canteen Mensaria Canteen Bambus Mensa ReWi insgrüne Food truck Mini Mensa Mensablitz (around the JGU and HS campus) At Mainz University of Applied Sciences Canteen K3 (university campus) Mensa Holzstraße (City - Holzstraße site) At the TH Bingen TH Bingen canteen Café Rochusberg
StudiwerkMainz reusable packaging can also be returned at all these locations.

Is there a deadline within which I have to return the packaging?

No, there is no deadline for the return. You can keep the StudiwerkMainz box for as long as you like. Even if the box becomes a memento of your time at university... You can also return the packaging at any checkout when the time comes

Are there any restrictions on use?

No. The reusable packaging can be used for all meals, including at home for your own meals on the way to class the next day. The Studiwerk Mainz boxes are hygienically cleaned before they are handed out again by our catering facilities. Of course, there is no refundable deposit if they become unusable (heavily mouldy, defective).

Is there a regulation for such cases?

Simply borrow a new StudiwerkMainz box: In the event of loss or damage, the deposit amount is cancelled and a new reusable packaging must be borrowed.

How is the return of reusable packaging handled?

Return:
You can return our reusable cans at the checkouts of all canteens and cafés. You must return our returnable cans at the checkout so that the deposit value can be refunded.

This is how it works:
You open your box for inspection by our canteen team. If the bowl is in an acceptable condition (spooned out, without mould), please close the bowl again. (If not, we will not take the tin back). Give the bowl to the cashier. The cashier will refund your money or you can borrow another box.

Cleaning:
Please rinse once! To avoid contamination of the tins, the StudiwerkMainz box, like all other crockery, should be cleaned after the food has been eaten, especially if the box has been carried around for a while.

Heavy mould infestation - no return:
If contamination (heavy mould infestation etc.) means that we can no longer use the StudiwerkMainz box, we will refuse to take it back. The StudiwerkMainz box will be disposed of as damaged and the deposit will be retained.

Damaged:
If the StudiwerkMainz box is so damaged that it can no longer be used for its intended purpose, the return will be refused. The box will be disposed of as damaged and the deposit will be retained.

Are there regular checks or cleaning processes?

The returned StudiwerkMainz boxes are immediately integrated into our HACCP concept and hygienically cleaned.

Yes, the To-Go coffee cups remain exactly the same as before. Nothing is changing here.