Tackling plastic waste: Give Up Your Paper Cups

Last summer, the Alumni Annual Fund supported a student led project committed to reducing reusable plastic cup waste on our Exeter campuses. The funds received from the Alumni Annual Fund were used to purchase 1000 KeepCups, which students from the Give Up Your Paper Cup group designed. The group’s commitment to the project inspired the University of Exeter to buy a further 1000 cups.

The scheme, which was launched on 18 September 2017, saw the student group give away 700 cups at Fresher’s Fair and a further 300 at an event later in the year. Since then the group have held two events in the Forum giving away free hot drinks to anyone with a reusable cup.

As a result of the Give Up Your Paper Cup campaign, hot drink prices within University operated cafes and shops were reduced by 25p with a disposable cup charge of 25p added to anyone requiring a disposable cup, with the Students’ Guild implementing a similar scheme. KeepCups were also sold as cost price within University cafes and shops with the first hot drink free in a bid to encourage people to give up their paper cups.

This Alumni Annual Fund supported project has had a tangible impact on the fight against plastic waste. Prior to 18 September 2017 the percentage of hot drinks served in disposable cups was 97%, over the first term alone this was reduced to 70%. What’s more, so far the scheme has saved the use of 25,000 disposable cups in University outlets alone.