Biffa provides expertise to pioneering returnable cup initiative in Glasgow
Biffa is lending its expertise to the UK’s first returnable cup initiative between multiple national brands.
The Borrow Cup scheme, set up by environmental charity Hubbub and reuse start-up Reposit, launched in Glasgow this week.
The scheme aims to cut into the 388 million disposable cups used in Scotland each year, with plans to expand further across the UK depending on the success of an initial three-month period
Major Glasgow retailers including Costa, Caffè Nero and Burger King are participating, alongside several local cafes.
Biffa, the UK leader in sustainable waste management, which already runs a national recycling scheme for single-use paper cups, is one of the supporting partners, providing advice on key areas such as logistics.
Customers purchasing a drink at any participating store will be given the option to use a Borrow Cup for a £1 deposit and will receive a discount or extra loyalty rewards.
Customers can return them at any participating venue to either use again, swap for a clean cup for their next drink, get their deposit back at the till or a £1 voucher at a return point.
According to WRAP, over three billion disposable cups are used in the UK every year. Recent research from Hubbub reveals that nearly three-quarters of UK residents own a reusable cup, however only a third say they use it at least once a month.
Borrow Cup aims to test whether providing a reusable option at source and making it more convenient for customers by providing a dense network of return points, results in fewer disposable cups being used.
To date, returnable cup initiatives have generally failed to progress due to trials being too small-scale; cumbersome user experiences have deterred engagement; and a lack of data-led traceability and measurement has limited further development.
Borrow Cup is different as it is a pioneering collaboration with major brands and local cafes, creating a high concentration of return points in the busiest areas of Glasgow. The user journey is simple with minimal friction (no apps or sign-ups) and robust tracking and measurement will help determine how the system can become environmentally and financially viable.
It’s testament to the power of collaboration between major brands, local businesses, and innovative organizations.
As one of the supporting partners, Biffa is excited to be at the forefront of this movement and to see how this project evolves and expands across the UK.
We want to demonstrate how a collaborative model can improve the success of returnable cups, and understand how it can become environmentally, commercially and operationally viable. If successful, we are optimistic that this approach can be rolled out further across the UK.
