Winter Refresh Guide
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      1. Friendlier Help Center
      2. Winter Refresh Guide

      Winter Refresh Overview

      Your all-in-one checklist to ensure your staff, space and students are ready to reuse.

      First impressions matter - especially during orientation week. A smooth, confident Friendlier launch helps set the tone for the entire year and drives long-term adoption. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help you execute the Friendlier program effectively, build early momentum, and make reuse a success on campus.


      Here’s how to do it:

      Step 1: Marketing Audit & Refresh

      Before the rush of winter, take a moment to walk through your food service space from a student’s perspective, following the Friendlier Consumer Journey. This quick audit ensures your reuse program is visible, accessible, and reinforced every step of the way:

      • Awareness: Use social media and digital signage to create visibility and awareness around the program before students even enter the dining area.

      • Entrance: Place awareness posters (22x28s, 8.5x11s) in high-traffic areas to introduce Friendlier and how it works.

      • Order: Reinforce the program at the point of pickup using strip signs across shelves, sneeze guard clings, or other visual prompts.

      • POS: Display signage explaining the deposit system, and train cashiers to ask:
        “Do you know where to return your container when you’re done with it?”

      • Enjoy: Table talkers and clings on the tables help reinforce next steps and highlight app features or impact stats while students eat.

      • Return: Ensure bins are visible, easy to access, and paired with clear scan-and-return instructions.

      Even if your program is already in place, refreshing your marketing touchpoints boosts participation and normalizes reuse, especially with incoming students.

      If you're looking for the most updated signage, reach out to info@friendlier.com.

       

      👉 See the full Winter Marketing Refresh Guide here for signage tips, setup examples, and updated asset recommendations.

      Step 2: Staff Training

      In fast-paced food service environments, staff are the bridge between the program and your end users. That’s why it’s crucial that all team members - new and returning - receive updated training at the start of the winter term. Your staff should understand how the system works, how to encourage participation at the point of sale, and how to confidently answer questions from students. 

       

      👉 Check out our full article here for training resources and more details.

      Additional Resources


      Step 3: First-Year Engagement (Higher Ed / K-12)

      Orientation Preparation

      Your first-year students are the heart of this program. They’re the ones most likely to eat on campus and their early habits will stick with them throughout their whole higher education journey. Setting a clear tone from the start drives long-term success. Here are some best practices to increase engagement:


      • Hang posters and flyers in residences, cafeterias, and other student-facing spaces
      • Brief Residence Advisors/Dons and provide them with the necessary training to walk them through the program during orientation
      • Ensure Dons explain how reuse works, how to get deposits back, and why participation matters. These touchpoints will likely be students’ first exposure to the program
      • Post Instagram Stories and FAQ content online for easy access
      • Encourage User Generated Content, and ask Dons or student volunteers to film short TikTok or Instagram clips using our provided scripts (e.g., “What’s it like using a Friendlier container for the first time?”). UGC helps normalize the program through student voices and drives peer-to-peer engagement.

      👉 Read our tips for engaging first-years here

       

      See First Year Engagement One-Pager

      Step 4: Use the Friendlier-Certified Boothing Kit

      The best way to build excitement is to show up in person. When students see staff and peers engaging with the program, asking questions, and representing Friendlier, it helps make reuse feel normal, and even expected.


      To support this, we’ve created a Boothing Kit: a ready-made setup for orientation week, sustainability events, or any high-traffic time of year. Once purchased, your team has everything needed to confidently promote reuse all year long.

      Here’s what’s inside:

      • Retractable Banner: Grabs attention from a distance and gives your booth visual presence.
      • Branded Tablecloth: Makes your setup look clean and professional while reinforcing Friendlier branding.
      • Informational Flyer (How it Works) [Choose from one of two]: Explains the process: where to get containers, how to return them, and how to get deposits back. Great for handouts.
      • Awareness Flyer (Why Reuse Matters) [Choose from one of two]: Explains the environmental impact of reuse, with quick stats to connect students to the bigger picture.
      • Boothing Cheat Sheet (FAQs): Quick-reference answers for the most common student questions. Keep one on the table at all times.
      • Best Practices for Boothing: Tips for how to run a great booth: how to engage students, start conversations, and communicate value.
      • Optional Merch (Buttons, Stickers, etc.): Simple takeaways that students love - great for increasing word-of-mouth and social sharing. Reach out to info@friendlier.com for inquiries.

      Available in Two Formats:

      Pre-packed: We print and ship everything directly to you.

      Print-yourself: We send you core items, and you print the rest locally.

       

      Purchase a Friendlier Boothing Kit now!

      Reach out to info@friendlier.com for the print-yourself version.

      👉 See our full article on how to run a successful booth here.

      Step 5: Catering with Friendlier

      Campus events, meetings, and catered functions create some of the highest volumes of single-use waste—making them one of the biggest opportunities for impact. By choosing Friendlier for your catering operations, you can extend reuse beyond the dining hall and create a seamless, campus-wide experience for staff, faculty, and students.

      Here’s how to integrate Friendlier into your catering program effectively:

      Communicate Clearly With Clients

      Include a brief note in catering confirmation emails or menus such as:

      “This order will be served in Friendlier reusable packaging. Please return all containers to the nearest Friendlier blue bin after your event.”

      Simple reminders help ensure containers make their way back into circulation.

      Prep Your Catering Team

      Make sure staff handling catering orders understand:

      • How to pack and label orders using Friendlier containers

      • Where to direct clients to return bins

      • How to answer basic questions about deposits and returns

      • How to collect containers post-event when needed

      A confident catering team reinforces a smooth experience for your clients.

      Support Big Events With Proper Return Infrastructure

      If you’re catering large meetings, conferences, or student events:

      • Set up temporary return bins in convenient locations

      • Pair them with clear scan-and-return signage

      • Assign a point person to check bins during or after the event

      Small adjustments prevent pile-ups and keep containers circulating quickly.

      Celebrate the Impact

      Catering is an easy way to show departments their contribution to sustainability. Consider sharing quarterly stats on:

      • Containers reused through catering

      • Waste avoided

      • Emissions reduced

      These quick wins build internal buy-in and strengthen your campus sustainability narrative.

      Going into spring and summer, it's important to consider what events are coming up, and to think about what you can do to reduce waste.

      If you are looking to get your events catered, contact your CS rep.

       

      👉For more info on how to setup Friendlier catering, check out our article here.

      Wrap-Up

      A strong launch sets the tone for long-term success. By refreshing your marketing, training your team, and making the most of orientation week, you’re not just introducing a new system - you’re helping shift campus culture toward reuse. Every poster hung, container scanned, and question answered helps build momentum.


      Whether it’s your first time launching Friendlier or you’re gearing up for another great year, our goal is to make the process as smooth and impactful as possible.


      If you have questions at any stage, whether it’s about bin placement, training materials, or ordering a boothing kit, reach out to your Friendlier Customer Success representative. We’re here to support you every step of the way.


      Wishing you a smooth, successful winter rollout.

      Let’s make each container count this coming year! 

      Any more questions on how to maximize your impact? Reach out to derek@friendlier.com