Eco-Conscious Cup Shares

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

A Recycled Coffee Cups Program is Encouraging Drinkers to Share Mugs

— May 5, 2014 — Social Good
While many might be on board with reusable mugs, a new initiative is pushing for recycled coffee cups for java on the go. A team of social entrepreneurs from DO School in collaboration with the Brooklyn Roasting Company are rolling out a 10 week program where they give out 500 ceramic cup-share mugs. Located in Brooklyn, New York's Dumbo neighborhood, the cup-sharing pilot project allows coffee drinkers to purchase a bright blue mug to be returned the next day for washing and sanitizing, rather than using a disposable cup.

The standard disposable variety typically costs 15 cents to make, which adds up quickly when you consider the thousands a coffee shop will go through. Buying recycled coffee cups will also get Brooklyn Roasting Co customers a 25 cent discount.

Trend Themes

  1. Recycled Coffee Cups — Opportunity to develop and market recycled coffee cups as a sustainable alternative to disposable cups.
  2. Cup-sharing Programs — Potential for creating cup-sharing programs in coffee shops, encouraging customers to return and reuse ceramic mugs.
  3. Sustainable Coffee Packaging — Innovation opportunity for designing eco-friendly packaging solutions for coffee products, minimizing waste.

Industry Implications

  1. Coffee Shop Industry — Coffee shops can implement cup-sharing programs and offer discounts for customers who purchase and return reusable mugs.
  2. Sustainable Packaging Industry — Opportunity for sustainable packaging companies to collaborate with coffee brands in developing eco-friendly coffee cup solutions.
  3. Recycling Industry — Recycling facilities can explore partnerships with coffee shops to efficiently collect and recycle used ceramic mugs and coffee cups.
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