Berry supplies HDPE cups for reusable program in California

Berry is participating in the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project, an unprecedented collaboration to drive reusable cups led by the NextGen Consortium, an industrial collaboration managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy.

The reusable cups used in the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project.

Partners of the project include Starbucks, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Peet's Coffee, Yum! Brands and other global and local brands and restaurants. Officially kicked off on August 5, 30 participating large national chains and local independent restaurants in Petaluma, California are making reusable cups the free, default option in their stores.

Some of the reusable cups are supplied by Berry, which are 24-ounce, cold cups made of widely recyclable high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Each cup has a serialized QR code that enables the NextGen Consortium to analyze where cups were sold, returned and much more. These data points will help the Consortium assess the feasibility for scaling the reuse model.

The Reusable Cup Project places 60 cup return bins across Petaluma for consumers to drop off their used cups. Once collected, the reusable cups will be washed and recirculated to participating businesses by logistic company Muuse.

This initiative exemplifies the power of collective action to drive circularity in a way that is convenient and accessible for all. It is a critical milestone to accelerate a cultural shift toward reuse.

“This trial underscores the importance of partnership within an industry to drive innovation in reuse and advance a circular economy,” said Diane Marret, Vice President Sustainability for Berry Global.