Despite the pandemic derailing some momentum of reusable items, a Victoria companyB次元官网网址檚 circular economy coffee cup has been able to expand its reach and waste-reduction product line.
Cousins Nancy Prevost-Maurice and Caroline Thibault launched The Nulla Project in 2019 and the company now has about 1,000 cups in circulation and is partnered with 15 coffee shop locations. The project offers java drinkers looking to lower their disposable cup waste a reusable mug for a $5 deposit, and then they can exchange it for a new one or return it and get their money back at any partnering location.
Nulla has signed on with a cafe at Royal Roads University and is hoping to do the same at the University of Victoria.
B次元官网网址淢ost partners keep ordering more and more cups because people are aware of the program now,B次元官网网址� Prevost-Maurice told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淲e really want it to be something that is inclusive and easy for people to access.B次元官网网址�
Even if businesses use compostable cups, Prevost-Maurice said many of those will still end up in a landfill and there are communities that donB次元官网网址檛 have access to composting. Nulla hopes to give people an avenue to get their coffee fix without relying on single-use items at all, even if people forget their own reusable mug at home and need a zero-waste caffeine hit.
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B次元官网网址淓veryone thinks theyB次元官网网址檙e doing fine by recycling or composting, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not the case,B次元官网网址� Prevost-Maurice said. B次元官网网址淚 think we all want to do better, IB次元官网网址檓 sure everybody wants to make impactful action, itB次元官网网址檚 just when we donB次元官网网址檛 know, we donB次元官网网址檛 know.B次元官网网址�
If enough people can get on board, Prevost-Maurice hopes it will also help businesses cut costs by not having to buy so many single-use cups. The energy and resources needed to make disposable cups can be costly and harmful to the planet, she added.
B次元官网网址淛ust getting people to bring their own cup is a great way for coffee shops to save money. We want to create a community of zero-waste cafes that can work together.B次元官网网址�
Nulla isnB次元官网网址檛 stopping at coffee cups, as they realized events and festivals use a huge amount of disposable glasses and thereB次元官网网址檚 no real reason why youB次元官网网址檇 need a new cup with every drink. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why they got a Quebec company to make them a clear reusable glass that event-goers would get for a $2 deposit.
and Prevost-Maurice said itB次元官网网址檚 no different than going to a restaurant and using their kitchenware.
B次元官网网址淧eople react and theyB次元官网网址檙e like B次元官网网址榃ow, thatB次元官网网址檚 true, I donB次元官网网址檛 need to use five disposable glasses when I go to a festival,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just changing the way to do business because itB次元官网网址檚 quite easy to go reusable.B次元官网网址�
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