UK supermarket chain Waitrose has committed to removing all takeaway disposable coffee cups from its shops by autumn 2018, saving more than 52 million cups a year.
Members of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme, myWaitrose, will continue to have the option to enjoy a free tea or coffee from their shop’s self-serve machine. In the coming weeks they will be asked to bring their own reusable cup to use rather than being offered a disposable coffee cup when they go through the checkout.
Waitrose will initially remove disposable cups in nine branches from 30 April to understand how to manage the changeover as smoothly as possible for customers before rolling it out across all stores in a phased programme by the autumn. Customers will be informed before the change comes into effect in their local shop.
Removing the cups further underlines the supermarket’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and its use of plastics and packaging. It recently pledged to not sell any own label food in black plastic beyond 2019 – an earlier date than any other supermarket. It has also committed to make all own-label packaging widely recyclable (using the widely recycled logo), reusable, or home compostable by 2025.
Tor Harris, Head of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing at Waitrose, said “We realise this is a major change, but we believe removing all takeaway disposable cups is the right thing to do for our business and are confident the majority of customers will support the environmental benefits. It underlines our commitment to plastic and packaging reduction and our aim is to deliver this as quickly as possible.”
