PackIT is a scalable app framework designed for educational institutions with dining services to address food waste and food insecurity. By redistributing surplus food as affordable meals and fostering campus wide engagement through structured volunteer opportunities, PackIT aligns with the UN Sustainable Development; (End Hunger, Achieve Food Security, and Promote Sustainable Agriculture).
Core Features:
- Food Redistribution: Students can browse available meals from surplus food categorized by meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner), complete with real-time inventory updates, allergen details, and portion sizes.
- Student & Staff Dual-View System: Students reserve meals and sign up for volunteering while staff oversee food inventory, manage volunteers, and track meal distribution.
- Volunteer Engagement & Rewards: Students can earn Co-Curricular Record (CCR) credits and take part in a points-based gamification system to encourage consistent volunteering.
- Accessibility & Error Prevention: Text-to-speech, adjustable font sizes, high-contrast modes, and real-time validation reduce errors and accommodate diverse user needs.
- User-Friendly Navigation & Notifications: A consistent “Return to Home” button and push notifications remind users of meal availability and upcoming shifts.
- Institutional & Community Impact: Unlike general food-waste apps, PackIT is specifically tailored for universities to reduce waste, improve sustainability, and involve the entire campus community.
For more info, check out the Slide Deck and the Figma File.