Alarmed by the misinformation around reported increased hygiene benefits of single-use plastics in response to Coronavirus, City to Sea is leading the charge to ensure consumers can still safely take reusables to their favourite cafes and take-aways as they reopen.
Formed in 2015 by environmental campaigner, Natalie Fee City to Sea is a not-for-profit organisation, campaigning to stop plastic pollution. They tackle the single-use plastic items most found on our beaches, and in our rivers and oceans. They focus on stopping plastic at source by reducing demand, so our beaches won’t need to be cleaned in the future.
City to Sea recently launched the #ContactlessCoffee campaign, which began as a pilot in Bristol which soon attracted the attention of a group of local, independent coffee shops and restaurants in Cardiff. They got talking over Twitter and agreed it was time to bring the movement to the Welsh capital.
They have now teamed up to promote #ContactlessCoffee and encourage the safe and hygienic use of reusable coffee cups as lockdown restrictions lift.
Pettigrew Bakery & Tearooms, Bloc Coffee, Brodies Coffee, Dusty Knuckle, and The Little Man Garage have all pledged to accept reusable cups again as they reopen, and to offer discounts and special offers to the customers who use them.
Jo Morley, Head of Campaigns at City to Sea said:
“Plastic pollution doesn’t stop for a pandemic. As we start to come out of lockdown, it’s been brilliant to see cafes and bars open their doors once more, but restrictions have led to an inevitable increase in single-use packaging.
We want to get reusables back on the menu, and we’re working with businesses to make sure they’ve got the support and guidance they need to do this safely.
Despite what the plastic industry wants us to believe, single-use plastic is no safer. Coronavirus doesn’t care which we use, but when it comes to the planet, there is a big difference between single-use and reusable.”
Other businesses across Cardiff who have indicated on social media that they are accepting reusables post-lockdown include Mec Coffee in Castle Arcade, and Wild Thing vegan café in Grangetown. The campaign is also being supported by Cardiff’s first zero waste shop, Ripple Living, based in Roath.
Any business in Wales can join the initiative by checking out City to Sea’s online resources, accepting reusables and by using the #ContactlessCoffee hashtag. Members of the public are also encouraged to get behind the campaign by snapping a picture of their reusable cups in action, tagging @citytosea, and sharing with the hashtag #ContactlessCoffee.
City to Sea’s big ambition is to see businesses of all shapes, sizes and locations pledge to re-introduce reusables in time for Plastic Free July.
“Safety is quite rightly the number one priority for all of us right now, and it’s understandable that cafes may be considering only offering single-use coffee cups when they re-open. However, no one material is guaranteed to stop the virus.
That’s why the World Health Organization and other health authorities continue to emphasise that washing our hands and sanitizing surfaces are still the best things we can be doing.”
Reusables during coronavirus
2.5 billion coffee cups are used and thrown away each year in the UK – enough to stretch around the world roughly five and a half times, irreversibly damaging our environment and polluting our oceans.
Government guidance advises “the individual business to decide whether they allow the use of reusable cups or containers during this period”, so City to Sea want to support businesses in making the right decision by providing them with relevant guidance and support.
Over 115 health experts from eighteen countries signed a statement this week assuring retailers and consumers that reusables are safe during COVID-19, pushing back on claims made by the plastic industry.
The health experts emphasize that disposable products are not inherently safer than reusables and that reusable systems can be utilized safely during the pandemic by employing basic hygiene.
Supporting businesses to return to normal
Reusables CAN be used safely and accepting them doesn’t have to be complicated – in fact it can be super simple!
- Customers place their clean reusable cup (lid off) on a designated tray and steps back two metres.
- The barista takes the tray with the customer’s cup over to the coffee machine, extracts the coffee into a normal crockery cup or espresso cup, and steams the milk, as required.
- Without touching the customer’s reusable cup, the barista pours the coffee and milk into the customer’s cup (no latte art!), takes the tray back to the till and steps back two metres.
- Customers enjoy coffee in their favourite reusable coffee cup and reduces the prevalence of single-use cups – high five!
Do go out and support your local coffee shops and independents, they are the life blood of Wales – we need them! City to Sea have created this video to show how the process works in practice.
Words: Jasper Haze