Refill Return Cup initiative off to a strong start in Cardiff

Refill return cup initiative off to a strong start in Cardiff
Business

Cardiff’s Refill Return Cup initiative has seen strong engagement in its first month, with more than 2,500 reusable cups borrowed and a return rate of 97%.

Launched in October, the scheme is Wales' first city-wide reusable cup return programme and is estimated to have saved around 43kg of CO2 by reducing the need for single-use cup waste.

The initiative, led by FOR Cardiff and environmental organisation City to Sea, is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. It allows customers to “borrow” a reusable cup from participating cafes around Cardiff, with a network of return locations for easy drop-off. The project’s goal is to prevent up to 30,000 disposable cups from entering Cardiff’s waste stream by March 2025.

Customers can participate by scanning a QR code on the Refill app, making it easy to borrow and return cups. Da Coffee at Central Square has reported the highest cup return rate among participating venues.

Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said: Seeing the Cardiff Refill Return Cup scheme gain such quick momentum is inspiring. The commitment of Cardiff’s businesses, residents and visitors alike is helping build a more sustainable city one cup at a time.

The success of this pilot is attributed to the collaboration between local businesses, which offer a network of collection points throughout the city, encouraging sustainable practices among Cardiff’s residents and visitors.

Latest Packaging News

Aldi debuts 'world-first' aluminium-free full barrier carton
Sustainability

Aldi debuts 'world-first' aluminium-free full barrier carton

SIG has introduced what it describes as the world’s first full barrier aseptic carton pack without...
PACK EXPO Las Vegas celebrates 30 years of innovation
Events

PACK EXPO Las Vegas celebrates 30 years of innovation

PACK EXPO Las Vegas, one of North America’s most comprehensive packaging and processing events is...
Paramount Packaging Systems: Staying ahead in 2025 with Fuji flow wrappers
Supplier News

Paramount Packaging Systems: Staying ahead in 2025 with Fuji flow wrappers

As we step further into 2025, the packaging industry is seeing a wave of innovation – driven by...
Sustainable child-resistant closure launched for household products
Supplier News

Sustainable child-resistant closure launched for household products

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, developed a...
M&S deploys UV tag technology to monitor milk bottle recycling
Sustainability

M&S deploys UV tag technology to monitor milk bottle recycling

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has introduced ultraviolet (UV) tags on its four-pint milk bottles as...