Lindsey Hoell is the CEO of Dispatch Goods, a reusable container marketplace that partners with restaurants, businesses, and consumers to provide reusable container options. Dispatch Goods handles the logistics of delivering and collecting high-quality food containers and other reusables.

Here’s one of our highlights from this episode and Lindsey’s answers to some of our questions:

Featured Takeaway: Use reusables to save money and help the planet (8:50)

“As a restaurant in any community, the first thing you can look to is like, is there any single- use for dine-in? That’s a solvable problem that every restaurant could take on…It’s surprising to see how many and paper products or plastic products are still existing for the dine-in experience when really almost every restaurant has dishwashing capabilities.

The economics of using reuse over single use, even with an upfront investment like a dishwasher, are really favorable towards reuse.”

What’s the most important aspect of the guest experience nowadays? (17:28)

Using reusables to provide a higher-quality delivery experience. “The experience is not exactly what you get in a restaurant, even though the prices are the same. And so one thing we talk about is that reusables also offer a better, more elevated dining experience that more closely emulates a dine-in.”

What’s something successful you’ve seen or tried lately? (19:13)

Plant-based options. “For the first time ever, vegetarian options are becoming the most popular menu items.

We’ve noticed an enormous shift in fewer red meats and more plant based meats, fish and chickens. So more climate friendly foods. So it’s awesome to see this climate shift happening in the dining experience.”

Who is someone in the industry that deserves an Ovation? (20:34)

Nate Norris of Zuni Café in San Francisco. “They were the first restaurant to shift 100% to Dispatch packaging. Zuni is a San Francisco staple. They are activists and a voice for those that don’t have a voice in the Bay Area. They are bold in the decisions they make and the impact they have on the community.”