Major food and coffee brands support cup reuse scheme as it launches in Glasgow | 05-02-2025 |

AIPIA has reported on several Return/Reuse systems for coffee cups and other food service containers. While many of these had wider ambitions on a regional or even national scale (which did not work) the trend in recent times is for ‘Closed Loop’ systems rolled out in a more localised environment such as a city or at a major venue. 

The latest of these, the Borrow Cup project is notable because it has the support of several major brands and venues operating in Glasgow where it was launched in January.  The returnable cup initiative is supported by major outlets, including Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero and Burger King UK with the aim to reduce the reported 388.7 million single-use cups used in Scotland each year.

The three retailers have joined forces to participate in the project, set up by environmental charity Hubbub and reuse start-up Reposit. In addition to the three well known brands, several local cafes including Tinderbox, Sprigg, Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow City Chambers are part of the initiative.

Buried in the announcement is the fact that AIPIA member Avery Dennison is supplying ‘RFID scanning technology’. Sadly there is no information about what role, exactly, RFID is playing in the project. We are presuming that it will be used to track the cups along their journey and where they are issued and returned. Nearly every Closed Loop reuse system the Association has reported uses RFID or other smart packaging technology to make it work. So it would be good to know more about this particular application. 

In essence customers purchasing a drink at any participating outlet will be given the option to use a ‘Borrow Cup’ for a £1 deposit and will receive a discount or extra loyalty rewards at most participating locations. Cups are available in three different sizes, and customers can return them at any participating venue to either use again, swap for a clean cup for their next drink, receive their deposit back or get a voucher at a return point.

The project has been funded by the three retailers along with Ecosurety, Bunzl, British Plastics Federation and KFC. Industry partners have also supported the project with the cups provided by Berry, washing equipment provided by Electrolux in addition to the RFID element from Avery Dennison. It is also supported by Keep Scotland Beautiful and Biffa.

Borrow Cup aims to test whether providing a reusable option at source and making it more convenient for customers by providing a network of return points results in fewer disposable cups being used. Many consumers claim to own reusable cups, but only about one third use them and then less than once a month. 

The user journey is designed to be simple (without apps or sign-ups) and will use tracking and measurements to help determine how the system can become environmentally and financially viable. Hubbub is working with Carbon Bright to assess the environmental impact of Borrow Cup and plans to expand the initiative further based on the Glasgow trial, which will last for three months.

AIPIA Comment: With an abundance of such schemes out there, in UK, Europe, USA and beyond, the concept is one which has merit, particularly on a localised scale. But, as ever, the consumer is the key to success and many schemes have faltered on the lack of consumer take up. With three well know brands involved Borrow Cup may have a better chance than some. But it may need more incentives to capture consumers’ imagination – an opportunity for the RFID element to shine maybe?