March 2, 2020 10.16 am This story is over 48 months old

Lincolnshire Co-op coffee customers rewarded for reusable cups

You’ll be rewarded for making a greener choice
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Customers who use the Costa Express machines at Lincolnshire Co-op stores will be rewarded with 25p extra dividend if they use their own reusable cups.

The society has launched the scheme in a bid to help the environment by reducing single-use cup waste and litter.

It’s easy for dividend card holders to benefit – they just fill up their reusable cups at one of Lincolnshire Co-op’s 69 Costa Express machines, choose a hot drink from the selection, then take it to the till to pay.

You can purchase reusable cups from Lincolnshire Co-op stores

Colleagues will then add the extra dividend to the members’ card.

A customer who grabs a caffeine fix five days a week would save 260 single-use cups and would make an extra £65 in dividend a year, enough for 18 lunchtime meal deals.

Someone who buys one hot drink a week using a reusable cup would save 52 single-use cups and make an extra £13 dividend a year, enough for a bottle of prosecco and other treats.

Each Lincolnshire Co-op outlet with a Costa Express machine now has a range of rCups on sale, the world’s first reusable cup made from recycled single-use coffee cups.

The cups cost £6. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

They also feature a leak-proof lid and an insulated body that keep drinks warm for up to an hour.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Store Development Manager Matthew Wilkinson is a member of the Society’s environment group, which looks at ways to make the business greener.

“We believe we’re the first Costa Express retailer nationally to offer a reward to our customers for choosing to use a reusable cup,” he said.

“Our Costa Express service is popular, particularly in our petrol stations, and it’s part of what makes us a successful convenience retailer. But as well as providing services our customers want, we also need to look after the local environment.

“We hope this incentive will encourage people to make the switch to reusable cups and reduce the number of single-use cups we issue.”