Green Gown Awards 2017 - The University of Winchester - Winner

The University of Winchester has tackled its consumption of single use disposable cups head on by introducing a bold new pricing structure for hot and cold drinks, combined with a giveaway of 3000 reusable cups to students and staff.

The results have been striking. Since November 2016, the introduction of a 25p surcharge on all hot and cold drinks has resulted in 25,000 fewer disposable cups, which are not recyclable, being used in University food outlets. Meanwhile, sales of drinks in reusable cups have leapt from three in every 100 drinks to over thirty in every 100 drinks.

Most impressively, our reusable Gum-tec Americano cups enable staff and students to play a part in closing the recycling loop: the cups are made in part from recycled chewing gum, which is collected on campus - an innovative aspect of the project which has captured the imagination of the University community.

Top 3 learnings:

1 The stick (surcharge) and not the carrot (discount) has been key to changing consumer behavior.

2 Our reusable Gum-tec mugs have helped students and staff feel they are part of closing the recycling loop.

3 Joined-up promotion of the initiative through different channels across the University has helped make the scheme a success.

Videos

• The big Winchester coffee cup innovation of 2016/17: From 3 to 33 in 100 (click to hide)