Sustainable Sips: Rethinking the Way We Brew
If you’ve been popping your takeaway coffee cups into the recycling bin, we’ve got some disappointing news: most single-use cups aren’t actually recyclable. Whether lined with plastic or a plant-based coating, that inner layer is bonded to the paper in a way that can’t be separated by standard recycling processes. So even in Canberra, cups placed in the yellow bin still end up in landfill.
It’s a super common misconception— and one we’re keen to help clear up. We know that little changes can add up to big impact. So we’re stepping up our efforts to keep more cups out of landfill, and helping our community do their part too.
Here are five way’s we’re tackling reusable cup waste:
1. We’ve established a Reusable Cup Library
We’ve cleared out our cupboards, scoured the op shops, and received some generous community donations to build a rotating library of reusable cups available for customers to borrow. It’s an honour system— just bring the cup back next time so someone else can enjoy the good cup karma.
2. We’ve expanded our range of reusable cups for sale in the shop
We’re making it easier (and prettier) to sip sustainably by expanding our range of reusable cups— starting with our newest addition: Pargo Premium Insulated Drinkware. These premium insulated cups are crafted from high-grade 18/8 stainless steel, ensuring your drinks stay hot for up to 6 hours or cold for up to 12 hours. Designed with a crystal-clear, shatterproof lid and a barista-friendly fill line, they’re both stylish and practical. And, every purchase from Pargo contributes 5% of sales to fund clean water projects in communities lacking access to safe drinking water. Plus, they’ve passed the “Russ test”— our resident reusable cup connoisseur— so you know they’re top-notch.
3. We’re giving you a discount for using your own reusable cup
Every time you bring your own reusable cup, you’ll get 5% off your coffee. That’s more than the cost of the takeaway cup and lid, but we’re happy to take the hit— because it’s worth it for the planet.
4. We’re letting you know that our takeaway cups are home compostable
We use Biopak’s Green Stripe BioCups, which are completely plastic-free and lined with a water-based coating— no hidden nasties here. Even the ink used for printing is water-based, making the entire cup certified home compostable. That means you can toss it straight into your compost bin where it’ll break down just like any other paper-based “brown” material.
Pro tip: tear the cup into smaller pieces before composting to help it break down faster and more evenly.
5. We’ll compost your Sweet Bones takeaway cup for you
If you’re not set up for home composting, we’ve got you covered. Just pop your used Sweet Bones takeaway cup into the dedicated bin near our cutlery station and we’ll take care of the rest through our Compost Collective. It’s our way of keeping those cups out of landfill and giving them a second life as nutrient-rich soil.
And if you are keen to start composting at home but aren’t quite sure where to begin, our General Manager Shannon (aka the voice behind Flourish and Flour) has put together a super accessible guide to composting for beginners. You’ll find everything you need to get started— no green thumb required.
👉 Read it here
Together, even small shifts can lead to meaningful change. Thanks for being part of our journey toward a more sustainable, low-waste future— one coffee at a time.