The launch of a pioneering returnable cup scheme at the British Library has marked a new chapter in the institution’s sustainability story that should significantly reduce its coffee cup waste stream.
The UK’s national library has partnered with Circular&Co. to implement Tap&Reuse, a zero-deposit system that allows visitors to purchase a drink at the Upper Ground Café, operated by caterer Graysons, before returning their cup to a designated collection point.
Tap&Reuse is designed to replace single-use cups with durable cups that can be washed and returned to circulation up to 1,000 times.
Once a cup can no longer be reused, it is recycled into new products, often cups, keeping the material in the system. The overall process significantly reduces the amount of waste generated by on-site cafes.
Thanks to its 97% return rate, Tap&Reuse has already prevented the consumption of 5,000 single-use cups and their lids at the British Library. Building on this early success, the British Library plans to explore opportunities to expand the scheme into other areas in the future.
Trefor Pollard, general manager of Graysons at the British Library, said: “This was a big change for both our customers and the café team. After just five weeks, we are delighted with the way it is going. The café team worked hard to make the transition pain-free; our customers are completely on board and together we are making a difference.
"Circular&Co. has been very supportive throughout, and, best of all, we have already removed 5,000 disposable cups from our waste stream.”
Each cup has a QR code that can be scanned to show how long users have left to return it and the location of nearby points to do so. This has helped to boost the return rate and the positive impact on the scheme’s carbon footprint.
The scheme gives users seven days to return the cup. After this period, an automatic charge of £3 is applied, and they consequently own it.
Dan Dicker, founder of Circular&Co., said: “To see Tap&Reuse in action in a landmark institution like the British Library is incredibly exciting and rewarding. Making reuse easy in busy, everyday environments is exactly how behavioural change occurs. This is exactly what we’re looking to achieve, and we can’t wait to see the figures rise over the coming months.”
Tap&Reuse is being deployed across the UK and Europe, enabling businesses of all sizes to eliminate waste culture. Other adoptees include energy provider EDF and the National Trust.
Circular&Co. supplies businesses with the equipment needed to adopt the system, including installation and full operational support. It also monitors and automatically replaces cup stocks free of charge.
Discover more about Tap&Reuse™, via a dedicated YouTube video, or its implementation at the British Library