Manchester, we need your help! Join the Borro Scheme and reduce waste

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In this piece, Victoria Robertshaw, Founder of Green Street, introduces the upcoming Borro Scheme in Manchester. Borro aims to reduce single use takeaway cup waste and is part of the GMCA’s Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, which provides grants for businesses and organisations working in or with Greater Manchester’s ‘everyday economy’ to trial new ideas and become more resilient.

Every year, the UK uses around 3 billion takeaway cups, each serving a drink for just 15 minutes before being thrown away. This staggering waste amounts to over 200,000 miles of cups—enough to circle the earth eight times! But the good news is, this waste is avoidable.

Imagine if we all took a simple step: using our own cups for takeaway drinks. Not only do many cafes offer a discount for using your own cup, but businesses also save on the estimated £450 million spent annually on disposable cups. This small change can benefit both our pockets and the planet.

Introducing Borro: Your New, Eco-friendly Solution

Currently, fewer than 5% of takeaway drinks are served in customers’ own cups. To help increase this number, we are introducing Borro—a scheme providing free returnable cups at participating cafes in Manchester.

Whether you’ve forgotten your cup, it’s dirty, or you’ve left it at work, Borro is here to make sure you’re never forced to use a single-use cup again. These returnable cups can be borrowed, enjoyed, and returned to any participating cafe, making sustainable choices convenient and accessible.  It is also free to borrow a cup, you just leave a £2 deposit which you get back when you return the cup.

Why Borro Works

  • Sustainable: Each Borro cup can be used and washed 1,000+ times before being recycled, helping to save 1,000+ single-use cups from waste.
  • Cost-Effective: Businesses will offer a discount when you choose a Borro cup.
  • Supporting local creatives: Borro cups are designed by a talented young Manchester designer combining practicality with sleek design

Manchester: The Perfect City for Borro

Manchester is known for its vibrant coffee culture. Our research shows that 52% of Manchester’s residents and visitors enjoy a takeaway drink three or more times a week—three times more than the national average. So in turn, the Borro scheme can make a significant impact.

The people of Manchester are already familiar with returnable cups too, successfully used at events like the Christmas Markets and football matches. Businesses in the city are eager to innovate and embrace greener practices, with over 70% expressing concerns about the environmental impact of disposable packaging.

Rolling Out Borro

We’ll be launching Borro before Christmas in the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, with plans to expand based on your support. Look out for the Borro sticker in cafe windows, and if your favourite spot isn’t participating yet, encourage them to join!

Get Started Today

Transform your coffee run into an eco-friendly experience:

  • Start using your own reusable cup
  • From November, choose a Borro cup for your next takeaway drink.
  • Share your Borro cup moments on Instagram and inspire others to make a change.
  • If you’re a cafe owner, join the Borro scheme. You can join the scheme for free for a limited time, until September 2025. Contact us at hello@greenstreet.org.uk.

Let’s all make Manchester a greener city, one cup at a time!

Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

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