A new not-for-profit business is trying to encourage people to steer clear of single-use cups.
Late last year, Dunedin entrepreneur Laura Cope started UYOC, an acronym for ‘‘use your own cup’’. It is pronounced ‘‘you-yok’’.
UYOC is an online cafe guide which has many components, such as whether or not cafes are pet-friendly, have vegetarian options and encourage people to bring their own re-usable cups.
It started when Ms Cope decided she wanted to do something that promoted a good habit as well as generating money to give away.
All UYOC’s profits will go to New Zealand charities.
‘‘The hospitality industry uses so many [cups] that are single use so UYOC tries to encourage people not to do that,’’ Ms Cope said.
Some coffee lovers used up to 15 single-use cups a week, she said.
‘‘The problem of singleuse waste is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of our water, land and atmosphere right now’’.
The guide was attracting the attention of cafes all around the country, Ms Cope said.
The Good Earth Cafe was one of the 12 cafes in Dunedin involved in the guide, and was quick to to encourage people to use their reusable cups, Ms Cope said.
A total of 104 cafes are involved in the guide.
Customers can use the UYOC guide to search for a cafe near them that will give them a discount when they bring their own cup.
Ms Cope hopes to keep encouraging people to reduce waste.
