Suggestions From Us

Incentives

A potential program that could be implemented within campus cafes is a rewards card. Consumers could earn a punch for every coffee purchase using a reusable mug. Once they receive ten punches customers could be rewarded with a free coffee. Because small monetary incentives are an effective way to promote reusable mug use, a fun and easy punch card could very likely help the cause!

Create a Social Norm

Let's make reusable mugs the new trend on campus! Selling maize and blue mugs and other styles of mugs that can be personally customized will make students more inclined to trade paper cups for trendy coffee mugs. Time to flaunt the mug around campus and be proud to be drinking coffee in a sustainable fashion.

Reminders

By providing reminders to students, sustainable solutions will always be close at hand. We suggest providing free stickers or window clings during the first week of school and periodically through the rest of the year. Students can place these on the inside of their doors to ensure that they never forget their mug. Also sending out regular emails to remind students to continue using reusable mugs will provide feedback and reduce forgetfullness.

By looking at other successful programs on campus we can use general ideas and apply them to the reusable mug situation. For instance, the Go Blue Box program has a great method to reduce waste that can be applied to many other problems. In addition to "to-go" containers, reusable mugs could be exchanged for clean mugs after use, and forgetfulness can no longer be an excuse.

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