You’re in a rush, you need a coffee, but you’ve forgotten your reusable cup. Sound familiar?
“Does anyone have any good methods to remember to take their keep cup in the morning? I'm thinking to start storing the keys with the cups! Or the baby bottles.”
Since ABC’s the War on Waste aired, sales of reusable coffee cups went through the roof.
But how do you always remember an item that doesn’t fit comfortable in your pocket, needs a wash or is still dripping wet?
Someone recently asked this on a web forum, “Does anyone have any good methods to remember to take their keep cup in the morning? I'm thinking to start storing the keys with the cups! Or the baby bottles.”
Here are some quick tips - but also what to do when reusables are not an option.
Note– these ideas are applicable across the full range of reusables, not just coffee cups!
From the forum:
- I keep it in my bag (with my straw and cutlery) or at work so it’s on hand when I need it. I also won’t buy a drink if I don’t have it with me, although if I’m near the office I will order and then pop into work and get a ceramic mug to take it away. Lots of confused looks the first time but they’ve always been happy to help.
- What about after washing it just put it straight in your work bag?
- Put a reoccurring reminder on your phone for the approximate time you're about to go to work.
Suggestions from our team:
- Get two reusable cups - one for work / one for home or left in the car.
- Borrow someone else's.
- Ask the café staff if you can take the mug back to work and return it later.
- Dine in - take 5 mins and enjoy a cafe moment.
- Convince your local cafe to join Green Caffeen, a returnable KeepCup scheme or tye could get an in-house recycling scheme's like RecycleMe.
And finally, don't beat yourself up over the occasional disposable cup - there are much bigger issues to solve! Reduction through reuse is a great start.
Thanks very much to Myee, Ben, Leo and the rest of Sydney University’s Earth Guardians for letting me share their ideas.