Free coffee for attendees at launch event
People, community groups and businesses in Nairn and across the Highland region are invited for a free coffee later this month to learn more about a returnable packaging scheme.
The Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP), led and driven by eight community groups across the Highlands and coordinated by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, is teaming up with German sustainable returnable packaging system Vytal to offer reusable cups and food containers at the point of sale.
Eleven billion items of packaging are generated each year in the UK by our eating and drinking on-the-go habits, while 50% of sites in Scotland are littered with food and drink packaging.
To tackle this issue, the Highland Weigh in Nairn – a zero waste-shop and the first business to sign up to offer returnable food and drink packaging as part of the scheme – is hosting a launch event on 28 September to help the Highland region reduce the impact of single-use packaging.
Businesses and people interested in joining the scheme are invited to attend to learn more about the QR code-based app, how the scheme will work and enjoy a free coffee.
Ellie Campbell, Project Officer, Highland Community Waste Partnership, said:
“We are so excited to launch this new scheme to help tackle our issue with single-use packaging.
“Food and drink on-the-go is a by-product of our busy way of living, and the single-use items and packaging that this generates is creating unsustainable amounts of waste and litter.
“This new scheme will make it easy and convenient for people to enjoy the same food and drink as before, safe in the knowledge that their consumption will not contribute to our litter emergency.
“I encourage everyone who is interested – either a business curious to find out how to get involved, or an individual who wants to know how to use returnable packaging – to attend the launch event, enjoy a free coffee and learn more about the scheme.”
Amanda MacArthur, Managing Director of Highland Weigh, said:
“We have a gorgeous beach which is loved by the early morning swimmers, paddle borders, dog walkers and families.
“Being able to buy porridge with homemade compote, veggie soup with a cheese scone, Dahl with sourdough in a Vytal container, eat it outside and then return the container is such a great concept.
“Enjoying local takeaway food in a reuseable container that creates no waste – if there was ever a town to eat out … I would say it’s Nairn.”
Peter Simon, Managing Director at Vytal, said:
“We are excited to once again support Keep Scotland Beautiful in their effort to preserve our environment.
“Our commitment to sustainability perfectly aligns with the HCWP’s mission to reduce waste and promote more conscious consumption.
“Together, we can create a cleaner, greener future for the Highland community, preserving our natural landscapes for future generations.”
Highland Weigh recently took part in Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Highland Cup Movement, also in partnership with Vytal, where customers used the reusable cup scheme for takeaway coffees and soup.
In total more than 1,000 single-use cups avoided through a reusable cup scheme.
Following the success of the partnership, the Highland Community Waste Partnership is now offering the full range of food and drink packaging from Vytal, including cups, bowls, tubs and pizza boxes, until December 2024.
Participating businesses will receive a pool of packaging of their choosing, as well as support, staff training and campaign materials.
Businesses in both urban and remote areas are invited to sign up for a chance to try out the QR code-based app, which allows customers to choose reusable packaging at the point of sale, that can then be returned to any participating business.
Any businesses who are interested in joining the scheme are invited to attend the launch event at Highland Weigh on 28 September between 10am and 12pm to learn more about joining and receive a free coffee.
The Highland Community Waste Partnership is also hosting a free webinar on September 30 to discuss the partnership and how the Vytal system works.
There will also be a Q&A.
Register now: Returnable packaging with the Highland Community Waste Partnership & Vytal Tickets, Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
Visit Returnable Packaging (keepscotlandbeautiful.org) for more information.
