Bournemouth, Eco & Environment | Posted on August 8th, 2024 | return to news
Southbourne cafés launch reusable coffee cup scheme
Five cafés have banded together to launch the Dorset Cup scheme with Litter Free Dorset to reduce single-use coffee cup waste.
Five cafés in Southbourne are working together to launch the Dorset Cup scheme with Litter Free Dorset. This sustainability initiative aims to reduce the number of single-use coffee cups thrown away each day by allowing customers to borrow a reusable cup.
The scheme aims to make it easier and more convenient for customers to enjoy their coffee without having to remember to bring their own reusable cup. Members of the scheme can borrow a cup from any of the participating cafés, enjoy their coffee, and then return the cup to any café within the Dorset Cup network.
Membership of the scheme costs £5, and the first 50 members of the scheme will get a free hot drink. Members log their borrowed cup online, providing Litter Free Dorset with valuable data about where, when, and how often Dorset Cups are being used in Southbourne. This data will be used to recruit more cafés and support expansion of the scheme to other locations across Dorset.
The participating cafés are Velo Domestique, Wild & Ginger, Makla, Harry’s, and Little Perth.
Dan Armstrong, Southbourne Coastal BID director and owner of Velo Domestique, said: “We at Velo Domestique have been searching for a way to introduce a reusable cup scheme to the area for many years.
“Reducing our business’s impact on the planet has always been a core principle, so we’re thrilled to join Litter Free Dorset’s exciting new Dorset Cup initiative.”
The scheme is designed to reduce waste and encourage a culture of reuse. Disposable coffee cups are almost impossible to recycle and are likely end up in landfill or be incinerated. Even ‘compostable’ coffee cups do not solve the problem, since most compostable packaging cannot be processed by local authority waste facilities.
Emma Teasdale, project officer for the Dorset Cup scheme, said: “This initiative not only supports our environmental goals but also brings the Southbourne community together in a shared commitment to sustainability; after all, reuse is the only genuine solution to the single-use packaging crisis.
“We hope the Dorset Cup will inspire more businesses and customers to think about the impact of their packaging choices and take steps toward a more sustainable future.”
For more information about the Dorset Cup Scheme, including how to become a member and details of participating cafes, visit www.litterfreedorset.co.uk/dorset-cup.
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