California’s Petaluma launches reusable cup initiative with major brands

Starbucks to lead first-ever city-wide reusable cup project in California with NextGen Consortium
Sustainability

Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Peet’s Coffee, Yum! Brands, and other global and local brands are participating in The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project, organised by the NextGen Consortium and led by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners. Starting August 5, over 30 restaurants in Petaluma, CA, will replace single-use cups with reusable to-go cups at no cost to customers, with multiple return points available throughout the city.

This initiative is the first in the U.S. to make reusable to-go cups the default at multiple restaurants, aiming to reduce the use of single-use cups significantly. The project emphasises creating return habits among customers, which is crucial for the success of reuse systems. It represents a significant step forward in promoting and scaling reusable systems, building on five years of work by the NextGen Consortium in partnership with global foodservice brands.

The diverse mix of national chains, local restaurants, convenience stores, and community hubs makes this initiative powerful in shaping consumer habits and cultural norms. Participating establishments include Starbucks (and licensed Starbucks cafés in Target and Safeway), Peet’s Coffee, KFC, The Habit Burger Grill, Dunkin’, and various local cafés and restaurants. The project is supported by extensive public-private collaboration, including the City of Petaluma, Zero Waste Sonoma, Recology, community groups, and local businesses.

Starbucks to lead first-ever city-wide reusable cup project in California with NextGen Consortium © Starbucks Corporation

More than 60 cup return bins will be installed across Petaluma. After use, the reusable cups will be collected, washed, and reused by participating businesses. Muuse, a winner of the 2018 NextGen Cup innovation challenge, will manage the servicing and reverse logistics for the initiative.

Kate Daly, Managing Director and Head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, said: To create a world without packaging waste, we need to ensure that food packaging reuse systems are scaled in a way that creates a positive environmental impact––meeting the current needs of people while driving a cultural shift toward reuse. By testing reuse across an entire city in partnership with key stakeholders from the community and industry, we can scale reuse collaboratively through thoughtful experimentation, building a future where reuse is the norm.

Running until November, the project will collect data on customer participation and the environmental impact of reusables, testing the model's operational viability for larger scale implementation. This data will help businesses and regulators design new reuse systems and develop informed packaging regulations.

Latest Packaging News

Absolut trials 'industry-first' paper cap and bottle combo
Sustainability

Absolut trials 'industry-first' paper cap and bottle combo

Absolut has taken another step in its sustainable packaging journey by trialling an industry-first...
Paramount Packaging Systems: Fast-track flow wrapping solution for leading food producer
Supplier News

Paramount Packaging Systems: Fast-track flow wrapping solution for leading food producer

The challenge When a long-standing food manufacturer experienced the sudden failure of two vital...
Spectra helps Bumboo clean up sustainably with 100% POP PCR bottles
Supplier News

Spectra helps Bumboo clean up sustainably with 100% POP PCR bottles

Spectra proudly partnered with Bumboo on their latest innovation, a reusable household cleaning...
King's Hawaiian unveils fresh packaging design for 75th anniversary
Business

King's Hawaiian unveils fresh packaging design for 75th anniversary

King's Hawaiian, known for its popular sweet rolls and other baked goods in America, has introduced...
Fiat unveils car featuring parts made from recycled beverage cartons
Sustainability

Fiat unveils car featuring parts made from recycled beverage cartons

Beverage cartons have found a new life as part of a groundbreaking development for the automotive...