Take part in no disposable cup day on 4 October

Café culture is almost as popular in the UK as it is in France, and we all use disposable cups without much thought.

In the UK we use 7 million disposable cups on a daily basis, and it is estimated that 500,000 of those are dropped on the floor. Every year that amounts to 2.5 billion cups.

You can do your part to help stop disposal cups polluting the environment by using a reusable alternative on 4 October 2023. Once you see how easy it is to stop using disposable cups for one day, you can consider stopping for good.

Where the use of a paper cup is unavoidable, you can find your nearest recycling point by visiting National Cup Recycling Scheme's Where to recycle Paper Cups webpage.

There is already an industry collaboration which was launched in 2018. Set up by Costa Coffee, the National Cup Recycling Scheme is now funded by seven other major brands including McDonald’s, Café Nero, Pret A Manger, Greggs, Burger King, Pure and Lavazza Professional.

Why is this important?

The production and disposal of cups pollute our environment and contribute to global warming. It is estimated that the production of every 4 paper cups results in one pound of CO2 emissions.

Why should you care?

Disposal cups are made usually from virgin paper pulp, and when you consider the carbon footprint of cup manufacturing and distribution for these single-use items, it is clear that disposable coffee cups have a major impact on the environment.

Gradual breakdown of plastics results in tiny “microplastics” that can be ingested by animals, and chemicals that are potentially toxic for various creatures, including us.

How you can help

Think about stopping using disposal cups for good by using your own reusable cup.

Support businesses who are actively addressing the issues around using disposal cups. 

To find out more visit nodisposablecup.com.