SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
SUSTAINABLE REUSABLE CUP SYSTEMS FOR EVENTS & VENUES
Four years of reusable cups at an iconic Sydney music venue.
UNSW Roundhouse has been a cornerstone of the Sydney entertainment scene since the 1960s, hosting 90+ live music events, conferences & parties every year.
Key stats
Want to dig into the detail? Get the full case study here.
Before reusables, single-use cups cost an estimated $27,000 and generated 1,440kg of waste per year*. Once patrons finished their drinks, the cups went into the general waste bin.
In 2019, UNSW released its Environmental Sustainability Plan, which focused on cutting waste through reuse and buying from local, sustainable suppliers, encouraging Roundhouse to tackle the disposable cup problem.
*15c per cup and 8g weight of single-use cup x 180,000 cups per year.
These are some of the challenges covered in the case study, and how we worked together to solve them.
With up to 2,200 patrons on a big night, queues matter. The cup sizes and label design were chosen carefully so bartenders could pour as fast as they did with single use. After trials, the cup sizes were simplified to further increase speed of service, and combined with a fast deposit refund process patrons weren't left queuing longer because of reusables.
Reusable cups cost 5 to 6 times more than single use cups. Roundhouse needed enough stock for busy weekends, plus a buffer. This was managed with the deposit system, beverage retailer sponsorship and negotiated cup unit prices for the ongoing partnership.
Getting the message across in a dark, loud room was key to reducing loss rates. Patrons were used to binning their cups. The cup design, screens, bin and venue signage and bar staff all worked together to make returning cups the obvious choice. The cup design was refined over the first 3 years
Cups taken home, binned or broken add up and can break a reusable cup system. A simple deposit return scheme at the bar gave patrons a reason to bring their cups back. It now brings in more than it costs to replace lost cups and can be invested in other sustainability initiatives.
1440kg of waste diverted = 218 wheelie bins worth!
“We need to be at the forefront of new, sustainable ideas. We’re trying to reduce waste, not create more. If I just kept buying 5,000 cups a month, that defeats the purpose of going reusable.
There is a mutual collaboration between Roundhouse and Bettercup, where we can bounce ideas around and we can see the results improving.
It’s not trial and error between us, it’s between us and the 2,000 people coming through our venue. This is about shifting the culture of how people use cups, and protecting the planet while we do it. Bettercup has been a genuine partner in that, especially given how unique our venue is.”
– Henry Gonzalez, UNSW Roundhouse Bar Manager.
Want to see further insights and hear what’s next for UNSW Roundhouse?
Bettercup & UNSW have worked together to refine the reuse system since implementing reusable cups at the venue in 2022.
As return rates have stabilised to approximately 94%, Roundhouse has entered into a supply agreement where they order top ups of cups 3 times a year, at a lower cost than once-off orders.
Changes to the cup design, signage and deposit system came from watching how patrons actually used the cups. Each change helped push return rates higher, and they have now settled at around 94%.
With returns now steady, Roundhouse has moved to a new way of keeping stock topped up. It lowers costs and means the bars don't run short of cups. Download the full case study to see how it works.
