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.
What's Driving This Trend
- Recycled Coffee Cups
- Opportunity to develop and market recycled coffee cups as a sustainable alternative to disposable cups.
- Cup-sharing Programs
- Potential for creating cup-sharing programs in coffee shops, encouraging customers to return and reuse ceramic mugs.
- Sustainable Coffee Packaging
- Innovation opportunity for designing eco-friendly packaging solutions for coffee products, minimizing waste.
Who This Affects Most
- Coffee Shop Industry
- Coffee shops can implement cup-sharing programs and offer discounts for customers who purchase and return reusable mugs.
- Sustainable Packaging Industry
- Opportunity for sustainable packaging companies to collaborate with coffee brands in developing eco-friendly coffee cup solutions.
- Recycling Industry
- Recycling facilities can explore partnerships with coffee shops to efficiently collect and recycle used ceramic mugs and coffee cups.
