Major brand returnable cup scheme launches in Glasgow

Brands taking part in the scheme include Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero and Burger King.  

The “Borrow Cup” project was set up environmental charity Hubbub and also includes several local cafes, including Tinderbox, Sprigg, Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow City Chambers. 

The project is aiming to expand across the UK once the three-month trial in Glasgow concludes.

Gavin Ellis, co-founder of Hubbub, said: “Despite most people owning a reusable cup, they are generally left at home so it’s crucial we consider other ways to make reuse more accessible. We’ve taken learnings from other trials and created a pioneering shared system that makes it really simple for people to choose a reusable cup at point of sale.” 

Recent research from Hubbub showed that nearly three-quarters of UK residents own a reusable cup, however only a third say they use it “at least once a month”.  

Customers at participating stores will now be given the option to use one of the “Borrow Cups” for a £1 deposit. The cups, provided by Berry, come in three sizes and can be returned at any venue to be used for their next purchase, swapped for a clean cup, have their deposit returned or receive a £1 voucher.  

The washing equipment for the project was provided by Electrolux while the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanning technology was supplied by Avery Dennison. 

The scheme is aiming to reduce the 388 million disposable cups used in Scotland every year.  

Ellis continued: “Disposable cups make up 30% of the drinks waste in Glasgow’s on-street bins so we are delighted to partner with over 50 locations including some major brands and hope this trial will shift habits and help to make reusable cups the norm.  

“We want to demonstrate how a collaborative model can improve the success of returnable cups, and understand how it can become environmentally, commercially and operationally viable. If successful, we are optimistic that this approach can be rolled out further across the UK.” 

Hubbub said that it is working with consultancy Carbon Bright to assess the environmental impact of the scheme over the first three months. 

The project has been funded by the participating brands alongside Bunzl, the British Plastics Federation, Ecosurety and KFC. Keep Scotland Beautiful and Biffa both provided project support.

Acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy, Gillian Martin, said: “Single-use cups create over 5,400 tonnes of waste in Scotland every year and initiatives like Borrow Cup are vital for driving change and reducing waste. 

“By encouraging the use of returnable and reusable cups, this project demonstrates the power of collaboration between major brands, independent businesses, and innovative organisations like Hubbub and Reposit. While we continue to investigate waste reduction policies, including analysing consultation responses on proposals for a minimum charge on single-use beverage cups, voluntary efforts such as this play a critical role in reducing waste, protecting our environment, and supporting Scotland’s journey toward a circular economy.” 

Borrow Cup will be offered at the following retailers across Glasgow; Costa Coffee (11 locations); Caffè Nero (14 locations) and Burger King UK (12 locations). Local cafes include Tinderbox (five locations); Sprigg (three locations); Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow City Chambers (two locations, operated by Encore).