In 2018 Café Délices sent more than 16 thousand disposable cups to landfill. That had to stop. So in order to reduce their environmental impact the café will no longer be supplying any single use cups for takeaway drinks.
The café in Guernsey’s Market Square will now serve all takeaway hot drinks in a HuskeeCup and customers can bring it back on their next visit to exchange it for a clean one full of more delicious coffee.
HuskeeCup is made from coffee husk: a raw, organic waste material that’s produced at the milling stage of coffee production and normally destined for landfill.
On average, for every kilogram of coffee beans produced, approximately 220 grams of coffee husk is sent to landfill.
To join the scheme customers will pay £10 for the first purchase of coffee then all hot drinks including lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites are served at the reduced price of £2. Customers who don’t have a reusable cup when ordering a takeaway must either buy a HuskeeCup or simply sit-in for a relaxing coffee break. The cups are sold at cost price.
The HuskeeCup has been designed with input from world-class baristas and is durable, comfortable to hold and keeps coffee hotter for longer due to its unique thermal properties.
The owner of Café Délices, Andrew Taylor, said: “We were shocked to realise the impact we were having on the environment through providing disposable coffee cups. When you just hand out one cup at a time it doesn’t seem a lot, it was only when I ordered a whole pallet of cups that I realised just how big the problem of single use cups actually is.
“We wanted to implement a scheme which ensured we no longer contribute to waste and incentivise our customers to invest in a durable cup which they can bring back and swap for a new, clean one each time they visit.
“By insisting on serving hot drinks in reusable cups we’re also giving customers the satisfaction of knowing they are playing a part in helping the environment while enjoying our premium coffee.
“Every customer who purchases a HuskeeCup will receive a flat rate for their flat white – all coffees and hot drinks will cost £2 for HuskeeCup members.”
“I’m fully aware that this decision will reduce the amount of take away coffee we serve but the industry needs to change, and I’m prepared to get the ball rolling.”
Sustainability is high on Guernsey’s agenda following the implementation of the new waste strategy which has encouraged islanders to more carefully consider what they throw away.
By introducing reusable options which are affordable and environmentally-friendly islanders can still enjoy their daily coffee with the knowledge that they are not having a negative impact on the environment.
Café Délices is committed to reducing waste: packets of sugar have been replaced with pourers and bottles of still water are no longer on the menu. Waste coffee grinds from the café go to Rocquettes Cider for composting purposes. They ‘swap’ these when apple juice and ciders are delivered and Rocquettes Cider takes away around 10-15kg per week.
