‘Return-to-Earn’ reusable cup scheme trialled at UCL East

Gather & Gather, also known as Food at UCL, launched the trial "Return-to-Earn" deposit return scheme for cups at UCL East’s Marshgate campus to reduce disposable hot-drink cup usage.

Tackling disposable cup waste

Gather & Gather, also known as Food at UCL, launched a bespoke deposit return scheme for cups called Return-to-Earn at UCL East’s Marshgate campus. The initiative aimed to significantly reduce the use of disposable hot-drink cups, as UCL disposes of thousands of them each year, contributing to a large amount of waste.

For several years, UCL and the Students' Union have been working to tackle disposable cup waste through the Ditch the Disposable initiative. As part of these efforts, a 50p charge is already in place at campus cafés to encourage students and staff to bring reusable cups. 

The Return-to-Earn scheme was trialled in all four Food at UCL cafes, aiming to provide a seamless and sustainable alternative to disposable cups. The scheme was integrated into the existing purchasing systems, ensuring a completely app-free experience. This design choice was made to replicate the convenience of using disposable cups, thereby offering a frictionless customer experience.

Under this scheme, customers paid a £1 deposit for each reusable cup. Upon returning the cups to designated return points, which were tech-enabled modified bins, customers received their £1 deposit back. This system was designed to encourage the return of cups, as anyone could return a cup and earn £1, creating a strong incentive to keep the cups in circulation. This aspect of the scheme was particularly well-received by the students.

To ensure the smooth operation of the scheme, Food at UCL collaborated with Vinci, the facilities manager at UCL East. Together, they developed an efficient back-of-house operation to capture lost cups and minimise the loss rate.

UCL Sustainability Strategy

UCL recognises that purchasing and consumption can have far-reaching impacts, including natural resource depletion, poor working conditions, and pollution of natural habitats. As a leading university, UCL is committed to rethinking behaviours to address these issues and promote sustainable practices. 

The Return-to-Earn scheme aligns with UCL's broader sustainability initiatives, particularly the Loop campaign. The Loop campaign focuses on reshaping behaviours around unsustainable consumption by promoting responsible purchasing and waste reduction.

Impact of the trial

By the end of the trial, the scheme achieved impressive results. The return rate of the cups reached 79%, and the percentage of customers opting for disposable cups dropped to 15%.

These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of the Return-to-Earn scheme in promoting sustainable practices and reducing waste on campus. Through initiatives like this, UCL is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and its role as a leader in addressing unsustainable consumption.

Helen Fisher, Director of Operations, UCL East Campus and Office of the Vice Provost Strategy, commented on the trial:

I am delighted that the UCL East campus was chosen for a trial of the Return to Earn scheme in our cafes, and that the UCL East campus student and staff community have embraced the scheme with the overwhelming majority choosing the returnable cups option over disposables when they were given the choice.  Students and staff found the scheme easy to take part in, with clear instructions as to how to return cups.  We have shown that if we make it easy for people to choose the sustainable option, then they will, and I hope to see a roll out of the full scheme soon.’’

What’s next?

Gather & Gather with Sustainable UCL are working on other ways to reduce cup waste and the feasibility of expanding the trial. As part of this assessment, we’re seeking to gather interest, please complete this form to register your interest in the scheme.

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