The day earlier than Worldwide Coffee Day, on September 30, Costa Coffee launched a blockchain-powered reusable cup scheme, dubbed BURT, which goals to encourage extra sustainable behaviors amongst customers.
BURT – (Borrow, Use, Reuse, Take Again) – launched in 14 shops throughout Glasgow, Scotland, and can final till March 2022.
The British coffeehouse chain will use the trial to realize suggestions from prospects and examine their uptake and habits in the direction of reusable cups. These findings will then be used to optimize and create a scheme that can roll out throughout the UK in phases.
How Does BURT Work?
Clients who need to take part within the trial should first arrange an account to hitch BURT by scanning a QR code displayed in one of many 14 taking part areas. Subsequent, prospects make a never-to-be-repeated £5 cost to hitch the scheme. Then, they’ll shortly scan the QR code on a BURT cup, linking the cup to the shopper’s account through blockchain know-how. Lastly, they’ll pay on the check-out as they often would.
After prospects get pleasure from their espresso, they’ll return the cup at any taking part Costa Coffee retailer, the place will probably be scanned again in, delinked from their account, and hygienically machine-washed, prepared for the following joyful buyer. Clients will obtain a brand new BURT cup with every new order.
Neil Lake, Managing Director of Costa Coffee United Kingdom and Eire, commented:
Our prospects consider passionately in having the ability to make decisions that assist them do their bit to guard the atmosphere. Our precedence at Costa Coffee is to offer handy, efficient options whereas persevering with to serve great-tasting, completely crafted espresso. We’re excited to be the primary nationwide espresso firm to offer an answer like BURT, to additional incentivize the uptake of reusable cups in our shops.
Alongside our newly launched Costa Coffee Membership supply of a free drink for each 4 drinks purchased in a reusable cup, we hope this trial will present one other method ahead in serving to to cut back waste whereas bettering buyer expertise. It’ll additionally assist us perceive extra about how the UK excessive road can prepared the ground in making certain the long-term environmental sustainability of our planet.
Blockchain Platform
The scheme is being run in partnership with the Wokingham-based digital company, Austella on its blockchain-powered Valari platform. The trial is designed to cut back single-use cups and make it simpler for patrons to be eco-conscious, even when they’ve forgotten their reusable cups. This manner, they’ll nonetheless decide up their to-go espresso with out waste. The system can be best for these preferring to not carry their very own cup round each single day.
Mark Cundle, the CEO of Austella, mentioned:
Austella is delighted to be working with Costa Coffee to launch the trial of BURT and believes passionately within the function blockchain know-how can play in serving to companies scale back their environmental affect and make it simpler for customers to make sustainable decisions.
One fast scan of a QR code and Costa prospects will be capable to get pleasure from their favourite espresso in a reusable cup, earlier than dropping it again for the following buyer to make use of, lowering single-use waste.
Excessive-High quality Cups
The BURT cups are constructed from high-quality stainless-steel, making them sturdy, long-lasting, and simple to wash in Costa’s in-store dishwashers. They’ll maintain 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz drinks. As a bonus, BURT cups additionally match with Costa Specific machines, permitting prospects to get pleasure from completely crafted Costa espresso wherever they’re, guilt-free.
Broader Initiative
Barry Fisher, the CEO of Hold Scotland Lovely, commented:
Glasgow has been the point of interest for a raft of labor to handle cup waste through our Cup Motion in Glasgow marketing campaign, so we’re delighted to see this revolutionary trial going down within the metropolis. Efficient reuse options are important to lowering waste, altering the best way we devour, and addressing the local weather emergency.
Costa Coffee can be taking part in a broader initiative to extend reuse and recycling charges in-store, in partnership with Glasgow Metropolis Council, Hold Scotland Lovely, and different key espresso retailers.
