The Circular Mindset CIC has partnered with Perranporth-based Circular and Co, known for its circular product design, to roll out a reusable cup system across Bude’s cafés and coffee shops.
The scheme officially launched at Crooklets Beach Café and is hoped to be a step towards tackling waste and promoting reuse across the town.
The UK is estimated to use around 2.5 billion single-use cups each year, with less than one per cent currently recycled.
Laura Plummer, Co-Founder of The Circular Mindset CIC, said: “As a newly formed community interest company here in Bude, we’re proud that our first project – Cup Club Bude – makes our town the first in Cornwall to run a returnable cup scheme.
“As a coastal community, we see first-hand the impact of single-use waste, so it means a lot to be working together to tackle it and show what’s possible when Cornwall leads the change.”
Reusable cup scheme
Under the scheme, customers can borrow a Circular and Co reusable cup for a £1 deposit when ordering a takeaway drink.
The cup can then be returned to any participating café or outlet in exchange for a refund of the deposit, or swapped for a freshly cleaned cup for their next drink.
The model is designed to make reuse simple and convenient, removing the need for disposable cups while ensuring cups remain in local circulation.
Organisers hope that by offering a straightforward deposit-and-return system, the initiative will encourage both residents and visitors to take part.
Dan Dicker, Founder of Circular and Co, added: “It’s a real privilege to be supporting such an exciting initiative right here in Cornwall. We’re on a mission to make single-use culture a thing of the past, so seeing Cup Club Bude come to life is extremely rewarding.
“Our partnership with The Circular Mindset CIC is a perfect example of how local collaboration can drive meaningful change.
“Thanks to this, Bude is setting a precedent for other towns in Cornwall and beyond. We hope the scheme inspires more communities to rethink their single-use habits and embrace circular solutions that benefit both people and the planet.”
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