Type & Scope of Scheme

  • In-House (non-public-facing) is best suited for internal schemes run in a workplace.
  • External (public-facing) is best suited for general public schemes run in cafes or restaurants.
Number of distinct vendors
Number of distinct sites
  • Example: A University that is located on 1 campus with 3 different retail/brand-led vendors is 3 vendors, 1 site.
  • Example: A University that is located across 3 campuses with 6 different retail/brand-led vendors is 6 vendors, 3 sites.

Disposable Cups

All-in cost per cup (£)

Returnable Cups

(identified by QR)

All-in cost per cup (£)
-
-
-

Return Points

Number of Return Points required

Business Volume

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-
-
-

Carbon Comparison

Disposable Cups

cups+lids required per year
representing a carbon footprint of of CO2e
assuming single use paper (PE Cup) @ 0.104kg CO2e *
alternatively representing a carbon footprint of of CO2e
assuming single use Compostable (PLA Cup) @ 0.130kg CO2e *
and costing per year

Returnable Cups

cups+lids required in first year
representing a carbon footprint of of CO2e
assuming Circular Returnable Cup made from PP @ 0.158kg CO2e **
and a washing footprint (per cup per wash) @ 0.009kg CO2e ***
cups+lids required in subsequent years

* Source: LCA on paper cups, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd in 2018-19
** Source: ‘Carbon Footprint of the Circular Returnable Cup: A Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment’ January 2023, Prof Xiaoyu Yan, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall
*** Source: https://unitedbaristas.com/articles/think-pieces/why-keepcup-cant-save-the-world/

Scheme Costs

Breakdown

baseline scheme cost
plus for purchase of cups
plus for onboarding of cups
plus for purchase & onboarding of return points
plus for transaction costs

Totals

total cost of for first year
offset by in retained deposits
ongoing annual cost of in subsequent years
offset by in retained deposits

Deposit Return Platform delivered by re-universe. Standard app included.

Notes & Assumptions

  • Cups are initially purchased with one lid for every cup. Spare lids are purchasable separately. but are not accounted for above.
  • Reusable cups can require a consumer deposit, which is refunded only if the cup is returned. The loss of a lid alone does not prevent the refund.
  • Reusable cups are washed no more than once daily, and are available for re-use two days later.
    • Example: Cups returned on Monday are available again by Wednesday morning.
  • Returnable Cups last for 499 washes (returns) before being recycled.
  • Figures for subsequent years do not account for inflation, price changes, or changes in business volume.