Making Reusables a Viable Alternative to Single-use Takeaway Packaging

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Nic ByronUNC Chapel Hill Class of 2018Business Administration

Paper cup waste is a bigger problem than most realize

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~60B ~7.5%Paper cups thrown away

every year in the USPortion of UNBC wastestream

composed of paper cups

Paper cups cause unique contamination problems for waste management

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CompostTrash Recycling

59.5%

35.5%

59.3%

30.7%

5%10%

Survey results for “Where do you dispose of your paper cups?” Dalhousie University

UNC Chapel Hill

Recyclable and compostable options aren’t as sustainable as they seem 😬

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Improperly disposed compostables create

methane pockets in landfills

1 in 400Single-use options

legitimizes a throwaway culture

An analysis of energy-based LCAs reveals that reusables are the more sustainable option in the long run

CH4Paper cups that

actually end up being recycled

Promoting reusable cup use is no cup of tea

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“We continue to encourage customers to use personal tumblers by offering a discount on beverages, but we believe this behavior change is ultimately up to customers.”

Starbucks has been offering a 10¢ discount since 1985, but continues to fall far from their 5% reusables goal.

2008 20152009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 GOAL

1.3% 1.6%1.5% 1.8% 1.9% 1.5% 1.8% 1.7%

5%

90% own a cup

82-94%

believe paper cup waste is a problem

59% never-rarely use it

Reusable cups present too many barriers without enough priority

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Intention-Behavior Gap

Consumers will only overcome barriers for purchase decisions that align with their top 1-2 priorities, including:

Price, Ease of Use, Quality, Convenience, Sustainability, Brand, Reliability…

Top 3 barriers to using a reusable cup:

1) Keeping it clean

2) Remembering it

3) Carrying it around

4. Clean cups are delivered back to the beverage locations.

Solution: Cup-Share Program

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1. User checks out a cup when they purchase their beverage.

3. Cups are collected periodically throughout the week and taken to a central cleaning facility.

2. User checks in and deposits their cup at a return station located at all participating locations and around campus.1

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3

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Smaller, cheaper technology makes a cup-share program possible

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Each cup is identified at check-out using RFID tags and an autonomous check out device.

To check out a cup, each user must swipe an ID that is linked to a payment account.

Each return station is equipped with an cellular-enabled RFID reader for checking cups back in and alerting the system.

Similar cup-share programs have already begun around the world

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London, UK

Freiburg, Germany

Prince George, BC, Canada

Brooklyn, NY

Some are taking it even further by including options for takeaway food

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Share it all on social media

Wasteless looks to add in user benefits and social pressure

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Top 2 benefits to using a reusable cup:

Reducing personal impact on the environment

Discounts/rewards

1)

2)

Track personal impact

Compete with your friends

Redeem rewards or donate to your favorite charity

The public sector is still needed to drive out single-use completely

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-94%

Reduction in plastic bag use in less than 1 year after Ireland implemented 15¢ tax.

The UK is currently considering a 25p tax on paper cups.

“Latte Levy”

25pw/ 30% RCU

BANNEDBy 2023

Questions?

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