Did you know that 2.5 billion disposable cups are used every year in the UK? What’s worse is that less than 1% of them are recycled!
With an inner plastic sleeve, disposable cups are difficult to recycle and are a commonly contaminated item in recycling waste streams.
Individual actions do make a difference. Please remember to always bring your reusable cup. If you don’t have your own cup, do not worry, there is a variety to choose from at each outlet!
We introduced a disposable fee in 2023, appreciating that disposable cups are convenient but acknowledging that they are not a necessity. Revenue generated from this fee funds sustainable initiatives.
We are committed in reducing the waste we generate but we know disposable cups are a hot topic. We go through around 250,000 cups a year, that’s 531 cups a day!
We have created innovative sculptures to visually demonstrate the amounts we go through. ‘It’s only one cup, my choice won’t make a difference’ feels different when you can physically see the impact and how your choices can make a positive impact.
Brewing Questions:
- Despite the fee, hot drink prices in the university outlets remain cheaper than local coffee shops.
- The fee initiative supports our sustainability ambitions.
- Research on fees illustrate increases in reusable rates, whereas discounts had no effect (Poortinga & Whitaker, 2018).
- Free reusable cups are provided at Welcome events.
- Reduction in waste by savings of around 5000 bin bags of disposable cups per year. This will lead to a reduction in incineration and emissions.
- All outlets sell a range of reusable cups and water bottles at a range of prices. When you buy a coffee cups in the outlet, your first hot drink will be free!
