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Scotland has introduced the UK’s first returnable drinking cup initiative, Borrow Cup, to reduce waste from single-use products. The program, launched Monday in Glasgow, involves over 40 participating outlets, ranging from major chains to local businesses. Spearheaded by the environmental charity Hubbub and reuse-focused start-up Reposit, the scheme is set for an initial three-month trial in Glasgow, with plans to expand across Scotland and the UK if successful.
Borrow Cup has partnered with prominent retailers such as Costa Coffee, Burger King, Caffe Nero, and Tinderbox, alongside smaller organizations like Kelvingrove Museum, Sprigg, and Glasgow City Chambers.
How Borrow Cup Works:
Customers purchasing a drink at participating outlets can opt for a Borrow Cup by paying a £1 deposit. Most outlets offer discounts or loyalty rewards to incentivize the switch. The cups are available in three sizes, and users can either return their cups for a fresh one or receive a £1 refund.
Despite three-quarters of UK residents owning reusable cups, research from Hubbub reveals only a third use them monthly. Borrow Cup addresses this gap by providing a convenient, waste-reducing alternative to single-use options.
According to Zero Waste Scotland, Scotland generates significant waste from disposable cups, with 388 million cups discarded annually. The Borrow Cup initiative seeks to drastically reduce this number by promoting reusable alternatives.
If the trial proves successful, the scheme will roll out to more locations across Scotland and potentially the rest of the UK. Borrow Cup is a scalable solution to combat the environmental damage caused by single-use products, paving the way for broader adoption of reuse systems.
Gavin Ellis, co-founder of Hubbub, said: “We know disposable cup waste is an issue Scotland is keen to tackle, so we are delighted to launch the UK’s first cross-brand returnable cup initiative here in Glasgow.
“By making it easy and convenient for people to choose reusable cups, we hope Borrow Cup will shift habits and help to make reusable cups the norm.
“The success of the project hinges on how many people use it and, crucially, how many cups are returned to be used over and over.
“For it to be a success, we need the people of Glasgow to get behind Borrow Cup so we can show the rest of the UK what is possible.”
Stuart Chidley, co-founder of Reposit, said: “As a local business, we are delighted to be enabling local people and local and national businesses to make a simple switch from single-use to returnable cups.
“The world is watching how Glasgow is leading the way so that they can follow.”
Nicola Pierce, director of commercial planning, environment, social and governance at Burger King UK, said: “Burger King UK is excited to partner with Hubbub to bring Borrow Cup to Glasgow.
“This industry collaboration allows us to explore innovative ways to offer our customers a convenient and sustainable alternative, and we look forward to seeing the results.”
Gareth Hopley, head of communications at Caffe Nero, said: “We have long been supporters of recycling schemes for disposable cups, such as the Valpak Scheme, and we’re delighted to be partnering on Borrow Cup.
“We already offer additional loyalty stamps to any customer who uses a reusable cup in any of our stores, and Borrow Cup will sit perfectly alongside it. I’m sure it will be hugely successful.”