University launches carbon saving coffee scheme
The University has rolled out an innovative returnable cup scheme in a bid to reduce packaging waste and the consumption of paper cups.
Partnering with sustainable drinkware specialist Circular&Co., the institution has adopted a system which invites students and staff to pay for their drink as normal, enjoying their drink in a returnable cup which is returned to a designated point.
Tap&Reuse™ has been adopted at five café locations across its Bishop Otter and Bognor Regis campuses.
Since the beginning of September, 11,916 cups have been borrowed, with 90% being returned at an average return time of 2.14 days. An automatic charge of £3 will only be applied if the cup is not returned within eight days.
After just two serves, a returnable cup starts to make a CO2 saving, supporting the university’s ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Josh Greenfield, Group Manager at the University of Chichester, said: “The scheme has been a fantastic addition to our catering operation. To cut tens of thousands of single use paper and plastic cups has been a massive success.
“We have implemented this transition smoothly across five busy catering outlets and two different service styles – barista and self-service. Our staff and customers alike have embraced this big change and are committed to its long-term success at the University of Chichester.”
Each cup features a QR code that users can scan to see how long they have left to return it and the location of nearby points to do so. This ultimately helps to maximise return rate and the resulting positive impact on the scheme’s carbon footprint.
Dan Dicker, founder at Circular&Co., said: “The University of Chichester is among the growing number of respected institutions taking action to cut down on unnecessary waste. The results so far demonstrate the value of returnable cups in semi-enclosed environments, and it’s essential that every organisation to follows suit.”
Tap&Reuse™ is being successfully deployed across the UK and Europe, helping businesses across all sectors eliminate waste culture. Other adoptees include the National Trust and major energy provider EDF.
Circular&Co. provides businesses with the necessary equipment to adopt the platform, including installation and full operational support. It also monitors and automatically replaces cup stocks free of charge.
