Choose to reuse

Do you use a reusable cup?

Reuse is the best way to save hundreds of single-use cups from being used in the first place.

We are working hard to make it as easy as possible to #ChooseToReuse.  We encourage people to take their own reusable cup for a takeaway drink, but we also support businesses allowing customers to access reusables at the point of sale, rather than having to bring their own.

There is more and more recognition of the importance of moving away from single-use items where possible.

Did you know that most major coffee retailers, and many independents, offer rewards when you use your reusable cup? And in others, reusables are treated as the default, with a small charge added onto single-use purchases.

A reusable cup can be handier than you think. Use it for all manner of hot and cold drinks and foods - coffees, teas, soups or smoothies!  Every time you reuse, there is one less single-use container getting used and discarded.

Tips to remember your own reusable cup?

• Add it to your check-list for leaving the house: keys, wallet, phone....cup!
• Store it in your bag
• Remember to wash and dry it, ready for the next use.

Despite our best efforts to remember our reusable cups one of the challenges with reusables is having them to hand when you need them. We know at least 69% of people in the UK own a reusable cup, but only 1 in 6 will use it every time they buy a drink.

One promising solution to this is the increasing number of returnable coffee cup schemes across the UK, such as Borrow Cup in Glasgow. These schemes allow customers to borrow, use and return a cup, rather than taking a single-use one - making the sustainable choice more accessible and convenient.

To find out more about our work on encouraging reuse in Scotland, click on the links below.  You can also explore our linked Spotlight promoting refill and reuse on-the-go in the Highlands.

So, be part of the change and make the move to a reusable cup. The planet, and your pocket, will thank you for it.

There is no denying that 'disposable' single-use items are pretty convenient for both the retailer and consumer. They fuel our busy on-the-go lifestyles at little cost or so we thought. 

Reuse plays a big part in moving to a circular economy and there is great incentive to increase reuse rates given the Scottish Government's consultation and proposal to introduce a single-use cup charge. So, how do we effectively transition towards a model where reusables are used as much as possible? 

This is one of the issues that the Cup Movement is looking at. And the only way to find solutions that work, is to work together.

The Highland Community Waste Partnership's work on packaging highlights a range of ways that retailers, businesses and community groups have reused their products and their waste, as well as reduced their packaging.  Explore the range of packaging related spotlights and webinar recordings to inspire you at this link.  You can explore more detail in these spotlights and factsheets: 

• Returnable packaging considerations for businesses
• Highland retailer says no to single-use
• Promoting reuse and refill on the go