Reuse and Refill models

Bringing Reusable Packaging Systems to Life: Lessons Learned from Scaling Reusable Cups

In our report, “Bringing Reusable Packaging Systems to Life,” we use reusable packaging as the starting point for exploring reuse models more broadly, and specifically, we explore reusable cup systems that could revolutionize the way we drink our morning cup of coffee or iced drink on-the-go. Through the efforts of the NextGen Consortium, we are testing, funding and scaling these systems. The report guides you through the learnings gathered thus far during this multi-year program, exploring the different facets of reuse models––and the systems within those models that produce, distribute, monitor, collect and sanitize cups to enable their use hundreds of times by as many consumers, across a range of differing environments. By sharing the learnings in the report we hope to provide you with guideposts, best practices, materials to consider and actions to take when thinking about partnering with or creating your own reuse system to advance the transition to the circular economy.

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About Reusable Cup Systems

We begin our work with the cup. With 250 billion single-use cups sent to landfills each year, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and wasted energy, there is a significant opportunity to reduce our waste by tackling this material first.

We work with reusable cup teams to explore potential applications, rethink consumer incentives and align operations to minimize disruptions and maintain a positive customer experience.

Through the Cup Challenge, we selected three reusable cup solutions that offer reimagined systems for renting, washing, tracking and redistributing reusable cups.

In early 2020, two reusable solutions took part in month-long pilots at independent cafes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

How to Set Reusable Systems Up For Success

Engage Diverse Stakeholders

It takes a village

A reusable system is possible, and success is tied to collaboration.

Creating a reusable cup system requires collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders – customers, businesses, staff, logistics providers, and the cities they live in determine a reusable cup program’s success. Each stakeholder is different in approach and has a different role to play in the larger implementation of a reusable system.

Make Sustainable Material Choices

Built to last and to be recovered

The number of times reusable packaging is used ties directly to its environmental impact, as does its eventual end-of-life pathway. Even the most innovative companies leveraging reuse models will require decommissioning after many uses so designing for recyclability is critical. Important considerations around end-of-life recovery pathways, how energy intensive the material is to extract, cost and customer happiness need to be weighed before scaled production begins.

Select the Perfect Spot

There are fundamentals to selecting a retail location and where the cup lives in-store

Consider how retail locations provide convenience to the customer while also informing and connecting to the broader reuse system. Maximizing accessibility could mean considering proximity to transport hubs and retail density, among others.

Choose the Right Payment Model

Incentives, no hidden costs, or pay-as-you go

Reuse models must be economically viable and sustainable long-term. In order to enable and encourage regular use of reusable packaging services, designing the right financial incentives, payment models and lost cup fee and accounting methods is paramount to success.

Optimize Health & Safety Protocols

Hygiene is essential

Washing and sanitizing cups, lids, points of return and any other components of the reuse system is of extreme importance. Care should be taken across all stakeholders to ensure hygiene is being maintained at the highest standards.

Measure Impact and Success

Developing replicable standards and processes to measure impact and success

As reuse models scale, building out a standardized measuring framework can help align the industry as a whole around important metrics, moving us forward collectively. After aligning on a standard set of metrics, benchmarking and baselining will help evaluate future progress and set attainable performance goals and targets.

With waste from single-use foodservice packaging contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and filling landfills every year, reuse and refill models offer a viable alternative to single-use––providing more durable options that can be used multiple times.