A group of independent coffee shops and restaurants in Cardiff has 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.
The campaign is based on an initiative from City to Sea, the award-winning, Bristol-based organisation turning the tide on single-use plastic. They recently launched the #ContactlessCoffee campaign, which began as a pilot in Bristol, with a short video for cafes highlighting the latest best practice for accepting reusable cups safely.
Upon seeing the video on social media, a group of local Cardiff businesses got talking over Twitter and agreed it was time to bring the movement to the Welsh capital.
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.
She added: “I’m thrilled to see Cardiff businesses take up the baton in Wales, helping the public choose to reuse and reduce the amount of packaging that may end up littering our streets, parks and beaches.”
David Le Masurier, co-owner of Pettigrew Tearooms and Bakery, said: “Brilliant Coffee is vital to the success of our business and in lockdown ‘grabbing a coffee with your daily bread’ was a little taste of normality for many. We saw Covid-19 instantly halt all the progress in change of behaviour towards reusable cups, so it’s great to be part of the rallying call to keep reusables coming in Cardiff.”
Phill Lewis, co-founder of Dusty Knuckle Pizza said: “Though we aren’t able to welcome people back to our sites just yet, we’re delighted to be supporting #ContactlessCoffee to raise awareness about the safety of reusables. We’ll be accepting them as we look to open our shipping container in Canton, and later, our new site at the Goodshed in Barry.”
Jane Cook, who writes local sustainable food blog HungryCityHippy, said: “It has been distressing to see the rise in single use during the pandemic, but City to Sea’s video clearly illustrates that accepting reusables is both easy and safe. I am really excited to be able to enjoy takeaway coffee from my local independents in a sustainable way again.”
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.
Sophie Rae, founder Ripple Living, said: “With the easing of lockdown, many of our community are eager to return to support the fantastic independent coffee shops around the city. Being able to use a reusable coffee cup in a contactless transaction is a good, safe way to uphold the city’s green credentials and help business to thrive in a post COVID19 climate.”
