Returnable cup scheme
We are excited to announce that the University is taking a positive step in reducing our impact on the planet by becoming the first UK university to launch the Tap&Reuse cup scheme.
This system allows customers to use a reusable cup for their drink and return it within a week, free of charge. No need to remember your own cup, and no waste from a disposable cup.
After just 2 uses these cups start to make a CO2 saving, and it’s predicted that this change will save around 4 tonnes of CO2 a year!
Tap & Reuse
The Simple Solution to End Single-Use Cups
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Tap & Reuse
Borrow a Returnable Cup for Free
We are the first University to partner with Circular&Co to launch their Tap&Reuse scheme, which enables customers to borrow a returnable cup for free.
These cups look similar to a disposable cup and can be used to drink in or take away, but are not single-use.
You have 8 days to return the cup to the designated bins, located at all outlets, without being charged, so you can still enjoy the takeaway experience without the impact on the planet of a single-use cup. It’s a win-win!
The Tap & Reuse returnable cup system will be available in the following locations:
- Costa outlets on both campuses
- Starbucks in the Tech Park of the Bognor Regis campus
- Otter’s restaurants on both campuses
Learn more about how the system works in the FAQs below.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two ways we’re using the scheme on our campuses.
At outlets with a barista, the member of staff will serve your drink in a reusable cup.
In Otter’s restaurants, there is a self-service unit for you to collect a cup to use with the hot drinks machine.
- Order and pay for your drink as normal.
The barista will then place your coffee on the magic counter, which reads the chip on the bottom of the cup. - To borrow a cup, just tap your bank card or phone on the reader. Your cup is now linked to your card; no payment is taken. You will pay for your drink separately as normal.
- Enjoy your drink more in our premium cup. Once you’ve finished your drink, scan the QR code to find the nearest collection point.
- Return the Cup to a collection point. There are collection points at all Baxter Storey outlets on both campuses. On the Chichester campus this is Costa in the LRC and Otters Restaurant, on the Bognor Regis campus this is Costa in the LRC, Starbucks in the Tech Park and Otters Restaurant. Once returned, the link between your bank card and the cup is deleted with no details retained.
- Cups not returned charged at £3. If you do not return the cup within 8 days, a one-off charge will be applied to your card and you will now own the cup.
- Press the green button on the front of the cup dispenser.
- Tap your card or phone on the reader. You will pay for your drink at the till as usual.
- After 2 or 3 seconds the dispenser lid will open and you can take as many cups as you need. The cup(s) is now linked to your payment card.
- Use the cup and return it to one of the designated bins within 8 days and you will not be charged. There are collection points at all Baxter Storey outlets on both campuses. On the Chichester campus this is Costa in the LRC and Otters Restaurant, on the Bognor Regis campus this is Costa in the LRC, Starbucks in the Tech Park and Otters Restaurant.
- Cups not returned charged at £3. If you do not return the cup within 8 days, a one-off charge will be applied to your card and you will now own the cup.
No. By tapping your card, you are simply creating a link between the cup and your bank account. When you return your cup within 8 days, the link is broken with no card details retained.
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Yes! Every cup reused prevents the use of a single-use paper cup and the equivalent of 60.9grams of CO2e.
The 5 billion single-use paper cups used annually in the UK are responsible for the equivalent CO2 of around 125,000 UK homes per year.
After less that 3 uses, the CO2 emissions are off-set verses a single use cup.
Once you return your cup to one of the designated collection bins, which are located at each outlet, Baxter Storey staff will scan it, which will release the pending charge from your account. It is then washed, ready to be used by the next customer.
If you don’t return your cup within 8 days, the bank account your cup is linked to will be charged £3. You now own the cup.
No. Card details are encrypted in any case, but once the cup is returned, the link between the cup and your bank card is broken, with no card details retained.
Yes, you are welcome to take the cup home with you. You have 8 days in which to return the cup to any cup collection bin on Campus to avoid being charged £3. Once charged £3 you now own the cup.
There is a grey and orange Tap & Reuse bin located in the Costa and Otters Restaurant on the Chichester Campus, and in the Costa, Starbucks and Otters Restaurant on the Bognor Regis Campus.
Please use this bin to return your cup.
You can return your cup to any location, you don’t need to return it to the location you picked it up.
If the bin is full, simply return your cup to a member of Baxter Storey staff and let them know the bin is full.
In this rare event, the cup must have been missed as cups are scanned back in. Please contact the Tap&Reuse team at Circular&Co for a refund of your £3 on 01872 575000 or at trade@circularandco.com
If you scan the QR code on the cup once you’ve borrowed it, it will tell you how many days you have left to return it and where you can return it to.
It will count down the days left to return. If you click the ‘Remind Me’ button, you can put your email address in and it will then send a reminder with 3 days to go… 2…. 1 day to go, etc.
Simply put any extra cups straight into the collection bin where it will be scanned and ‘returned’ at no cost.
We understand that occasionally you may be getting a drink to take away and not returning to campus within 8 days, perhaps before taking annual leave, or someone visiting the campus just for the day.
On these occasions there are still paper cups available, however, we strongly encourage you to only request one where absolutely necessary. You will be charged the existing 20p additional charge for a disposable cup.
Yes, if you bring your own cup that does not need to be cleaned by staff you will receive a 20p discount on your drink.
As we are the first customer of Circluar&Co, who supply the cups, to serve 20oz drinks, they don’t currently make this size using the same mould type. They have therefore provided us with a temporary solution so that we can still serve this size to you, it just looks a little different.
Yes, you can still request a china cup from the barista, this will be charged at the same rate as the returnable cups as they are still washed up by staff.
We’re starting with hot cups, but we’re hoping to expand to cold beverage cups after the trial period.
The cups look similar to a disposable cup in design but are made from 100% recyclable Polypropylene Plastic and dishwasher safe and last for around 1,000 uses.
Each cup has a name on it, which makes it uniquely identifiable, as well as a QR code which tells you where the nearest collection point is.
No. The ribs on the side of the cup are designed to diffuse the heat so the cup does not become too hot.
We’re proud to be the first UK University to launch the Tap&Reuse scheme, but both the National Trust and Waitrose have it in place and are having a positive experience with the scheme.
For more information, visit the Circular&co website.
This list is a working document. If you have a query, please contact Lucy Ferre: l.ferre@chi.ac.uk, and your query will be added to these FAQs.