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Starbucks Stores in London Test Paper Cup Fee

March 01, 2018 14:47·
Starbucks trials extra 5p charge for takeaway coffee cups

Starbucks trials extra 5p charge for takeaway coffee cups

Starbucks will be the first United Kingdom coffee chain to trial a 5p "latte levy" on takeaway paper cups in a bid to wean clients off of their use.

It affects 35 branches in London, including some in the West End and the City, and money from the extra charge will go to environmental charity Hubbub, which is helping coordinate it.

Starbucks Europe's VP of communications, Simon Redfern, said he hopes the surcharge will encourage customers to rethink their decision to use disposable cups.

This follows Starbucks-commisioned research that found nearly half (48%) of people surveyed said they would carry a reusable cup.

MPs and campaigners welcomed the move, although they said Starbucks and the other coffee chains should be doing much more to reduce their plastic footprint.

Concerns regarding the environmental issues associated with takeaway coffee cups have hit the headlines in recent months, with the Environmental Audit Committee recently calling on the government to introduce a 25p "latte levy" on single-use coffee cups.

The trial starts today, with the proceeds from the charge earmarked for use by Hubbub to run a comprehensive study into behaviour change, including research into how best to encourage consumers to adopt reusable cups.

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Starbucks has offered customers a £1 reusable cup since 2014, but is now adding the 5p charge to any paper cup purchases to drive further action.

The UK throws away around 2.5 billion coffee cups every year, with less than 1 per cent being recycled.

Pret A Manger announced that it was doubling its discount for customers who bring reusable cups into stores to 50p, in a bid to reduce the number of paper cups that are discarded as waste. Working with companies like Starbucks, Hubbub has collected more than 1.2 million paper coffee cups across Manchester and London.

Hubbub co founder Gavin Ellis added: "Our early conversations with customers have shown an increased awareness of the need to reduce waste from single-use cups".

Ever since we opened in the United Kingdom, 20 years ago, we have looked at ways to encourage and support the use of reusable cups.

"A small charge is proven to be effective, so this is welcome, though it would be good to know what Starbucks plans are for shifting to non-plastics alternatives", said Friends of the Earth waste campaigner Julian Kirby.

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