Every year, the UK gets through an estimated 2.5 billion ‘disposable’ coffee cups, but less than 1% are recycled.

Many people believe that single-use coffee cups can be widely recycled. However all single-use coffee cups have a lining, which cannot be removed by most recycling facilities. This creates a problem for local authorities – and taxpayers are covering 90% of the cost of collecting, sorting, and disposing of waste coffee cups. The same goes for ‘compostable’ cups – people assume they biodegrade when thrown in public litter bins. The reality is that these cups need certain temperatures and conditions to break down.

Single-use coffee cups are soon to be driven out of use, either through legislation, climate, and consumer pressures. This means very soon 95% of the population who are still using single-use cups will need a workable cost-effective, hassle-free solution. Companies such as Boston Tea Party, who have been single-use free since 2018, have started campaigning heavily to push for a UK ban on single use cups. We want Bude leading the way towards a resilient, ‘returnable’ future. This is why Bude’s Sustainable Tourism Project – The Bude Way, is looking to pilot a returnable cup scheme – reusable drink packaging that is designed to be returned to a business for re-use, eliminating the need for single-use packaging.

To really initiate change we need to see future-facing, commercially smart return and reuse schemes. We, as does the whole industry, recognise the need for collaboration across sectors to deliver a solution that effectively reduces production and consumption. In the UK, sales of hot drinks in reusable cups only make up around 5% of total sales but the good news is, our recent research revealed that 77% of Brits reported being open to borrowing and returning a cup (City to Sea 2023 Consumer Research). We’ve got to do more to reduce our impact. Because schemes that aren’t circular, aren’t sustainable.

Over the last 2 years, new returnable schemes have launched across the country including a pilot of a city-wide returnable cup scheme in Bristol and Cardiff with the Refill Return Cup – a collaboration with Circular&Co and City to Sea. Universities are also getting in on the action, with campuses running returnable cup schemes for students and staff. When a returnable cup system works, it can have a lower environmental impact than single-use cups, because producing and recycling or disposing of single-use cups can create more carbon emissions than using reusable cups over and over again.

We’ve been busy researching and networking with neighbouring counties and other sustainable groups, hearing feedback and best practice. Litter Free Dorset launched their returnable Dorset Cup pilot early 2024 and are already looking to expand the scheme. Their team has been a huge source of knowledge and support in the development of our scheme and its because of collaboration and sharing between groups such as this that initiatives are able to grow. We’re also thankful to Sustainable St. Ives who have shared their experience and data on their successful USE*RINSE*REPEAT scheme. 

Our goal is to support the transition to reuse systems at scale by enabling and empowering businesses to create an impactful returnable cup scheme. We’re looking for 5 of our onboarded businesses across the wider Bude area to take part in a pilot to bring this scheme to life.

What’s in it for businesses?

• Reduce waste and demonstrate your commitment to reducing your environmental impact.
• Increase your footfall and improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Gain recognition for being part of a pioneering project, leading the way for reusable packaging schemes in the UK.
• An operationally simple reuse system, designed to minimise staff time and processes, with an on-hand support team.

We’ll expect participating businesses to work with us to test the scheme on a small scale – providing feedback and data on customer and staff engagement. In return we’ll manage the scheme back of house & provide support, with cups included as part of the pilot. Interested? Contact lauren@visitbude.info