Auckland Zoo has introduced the Again Again zero waste to landfill coffee cup lending scheme as its sole take-out option for hot drinks, with the move expected to eliminate the use of 160,000 single-use compostable cups a year.

From 11 June Auckland Zoo visitors can use their own re-usable cup or borrow an Again Again cup for a refundable $3 deposit. The cup can be used again at the Zoo or at other Auckland cafés that have adopted the scheme. Visitors can also gift their $3 refund to the Zoo’s Conservation Fund.

Auckland Zoo commercial manager, Angela Clarke said Again Again is a smart, easy and environmentally friendly scheme.

“As part of our sustainability journey, we’ve eliminated single-use plastic bags and drinking bottles, and introduced water bottle filling stations around the Zoo, encouraging people to bring their own reusable bottles.

“Now we’re able to eliminate the 160,000 single-use compostable cups we use each year. Again Again cups are high-grade stainless steel and can be washed and reused at least 500 times – a far greener, more sustainable option.”

Auckland Zoo sustainability advisor Tess Chilala, said the initiative will help support a shift in peoples’ thinking in terms of the disposability of products used every day.

“A more sustainable future for our planet, wildlife and people is going to require a fundamental shift in our relationship with the earth. Unsustainable extraction of natural resources from the earth puts pressure on land and biodiversity all around the globe. We really need to value the products that are made from our precious natural resources, and consume with respect,” said Chilala.

“While our coffee cups were 100 per cent commercially compostable, they still required energy and resources to create. In addition, despite our best efforts and that of our waste supplier and compost centre, our audits revealed we had compostable cups ending up in landfill. Because they’re made of organic materials, compostable cups act like plastic in landfill and so don’t break down.

“Again Again has provided us with a really great solution. It’s another small step in helping us put our best (and lowest carbon) foot forward.”

Again Again cups are made from the highest grade (304) stainless steel and cups can be used indefinitely, or if damaged, Again Again will recover the steel and recycle in NZ.

Auckland Zoo has been a CarboNZero accredited organisation since 2016.

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