If there is anything Island Pacific School tries to help its students achieve, it’s to make waves.
So when it’s time for Grade 8 students to conduct a yearlong community service project it’s a prime opportunity to make an impact. Noticeably, we have found from personal experience that the biggest problems tend to have the widest variety of solutions available. So obviously we beelined straight for solutions to climate change.
On a school trip to UBC we were inspired by a cup share program designed to completely eliminate disposable cup waste. After lots of researching, we’ve managed to find a perfect organization to help us execute this goal for Bowen Island. Our hopes for this project are that eventually, with enough publicity and consumer buy-in, the whole island will be participating and the program will be fully effective.
We applied for and received a grant from the Knick Knack Nook to support starting a cup share program and we then reached out to the local cafes to participate. We are thrilled to announce that the Ruddy Potato, Snug Cafe, and Artisan Eats will be participating. Now available at all three locations, customers will be able to get their take away drinks in reusable cups.
We’ve all heard of reusable cups, but have you ever heard of returnable cups? It has been estimated that 262 million disposable cups are thrown away each year in Metro Vancouver, and while reusable cups are awesome, people often forget to bring them. The new Bowen Island zero-waste cup program will allow customers to sustainably take their drink to-go by borrowing a returnable cup.
By partnering with ShareWares, a local Vancouver clean tech company, IPS students Juha and Harper are hoping that Bowen can pave the way for other communities to reduce single-use, and eventually go fully zero-waste! Asking people to completely ditch all single-use products requires a significant behavioural change, so they’re starting with just coffee cups to get the ball rolling.
Next time you want to get your drink to-go at Artisan Eats, the Ruddy, or Snug Cafe, but you’ve forgotten your reusable cup, you can ask for a ShareWares cup! You’ll pay a $1.50 refundable deposit, enjoy your drink, and return your cup to a participating cafe to get your deposit back.
With the ShareWares program, there’s no sign up fees, and all deposits are refunded digitally through e-transfer after the cups are returned. The program operates on a QR code system, so you will be able to scan the QR code on your cup for instructions, returning, and to find participating locations.
FAQs:
Q: What are these cups made of?
A: All cups and lids are ethically made by a B Corp in the USA out of 100 per cent recycled polypropylene.
Q: Do I need to register or sign up to use a ShareWares cup?
A: The first time you return a cup, you will be asked for your phone number to create an account but no credit cards and sign-up fees are required. Your account will be saved on your smartphone so you’ll stay logged in and the next return will be as easy as scan, scan, click!
Q: What if I’m leaving Bowen?
A: Please return your cup to any participating cafe on Bowen Island. If you forget to return it before leaving the island, you can return to any ShareWares bin in Vancouver. Scan the cup to find locations.
Q: How do I get my money back?
A: Simply scan the QR code on the cup with your mobile phone, locate and scan the nearest return bin, and follow the prompts. You can then choose to accumulate your balance, donate it to charity, or request an e-transfer for your refund.
Q: What if my cup is broken?
A: Return it as usual, you will still get a refund and we ensure it is properly recycled.
Q: Do I have to wash my cup before returning?
A: No, we handle the washing so you don’t have to.
