Bid to save 1000 cups as Cup Movement in the Highlands extended until end of October

Ahead of Scotland’s Climate Week (25 Sept – 1 Oct) and International Coffee Day on 1 October, we are urging residents and visitors to the Highlands to enjoy a hot drink in a reusable cup as part of Cup Movement® in the Highlands.

The pilot, which promotes the use of reusable cups for takeaway drinks in the Highlands, has already saved 900+ single-use cups.  And now, we are urging people to step up to the challenge as we aim to check out a further 100 cups to take the campaign total to more than 1,000 single-use cups saved.

Cup Movement® in the Highlands connects a network of businesses across the northern Highlands selling takeaway drinks in and around the NC500 route. We are delighted that the pilot campaign has been extended until the end of October 2023 - making it easy for customers to switch from single-use cups to borrowing, or using, reusable ones for their takeaway drinks.  

Since April, customers using Vytal’s innovative app technology have checked-out more than 900 Vytal reusable cups - borrowing and returning the cup to the business they purchased the drink from, or to one of more than 20 businesses in the Highland Cup Movement network.  

As the pilot draws to a conclusion, we are urging residents of and visitors to the NC500 area of the Highlands to complete a survey to gain evaluation insights – more than 300 responses have already been returned.

The survey can be completed anonymously, and anyone who completes it will receive a code for a 25% discount on the cost of Traveller Membership from NC500. There is also an option to add an email to be included in a prize draw to win a hamper of Highland goodies.  A winner will be drawn at random after the end of September 2023.

Paul Wallace, Campaigns and Social Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We have had a fantastic response to our Cup Movement® in the Highlands initiative, with more than 900 single-use cups already saved.  We would love 1,000 reusable cups to be checked out before the pilot ends – and with Scotland’s Climate Week ahead of us, borrowing a cup from one of the businesses is a simple action you can take to help combat climate change.

“With just over a month to go, we are also urging people who have visited the North Coast 500 or live in the area and has supported the Highland Cup Movement to complete our survey, which will provide vital information for us to use as we develop future schemes.

“We want people to enjoy guilt free hot drinks on the go and Cup Movement has shown that there is a desire for more convenient and sustainable options.”

The Highland Cup Movement - Customer survey can be completed here and closes at the end of September.

Visit our Highland Cup Movement page for more information.