No excuse for single use: Manchester coffee shops unite for Plastic Free Friday

Over seven million disposable coffee cups are used every day in the UK, and most of these end up in landfill. There’s no excuse for single use, and Manchester is working hard to reduce the use of single-use coffee cups.

With the support of I Love Manchester, coffee shops across the city will refuse to sell coffee in single-use cups on Friday 24th May to increase awareness of the plastic problem and pioneer change.

The I Love MCR team has given independent coffee shops across the city centre 500 100% recyclable coffee cups, made by local Stockport based Harfield Tableware and featuring the iconic I Love MCR logo.

The reusable cups will be available free, in exchange for a charitable donation (suggested £2.50) this Plastic Free Friday at coffee shops taking part in the campaign on 24th May: Fress, Pot Kettle Black, Nibble NQ, Michael’s Coffee House, Second City at GRUB and Ancoats Coffee Co.

Money raised from their sale will go to the We Love MCR Charity, whose main aim is to improve the lives and life chances of the people of Greater Manchester.

The participating shops are asking coffee fans to bring in their own reusable cups for their daily brew as part of Plastic Free Friday, or there’s the option to get your own I Love MCR reusable coffee cup in exchange for a charitable donation.

“We’re thrilled to be working with I Love MCR to bring more reusable cups into our city,” said Corin Bell, lead at Plastic Free Greater Manchester.

“Going reusable is by far the most sustainable move for take-away hot drinks, and I Love MCR’s kind contribution of 500 reusable cups for people to purchase will help towards making a significant difference in Manchester’s single-use plastic.

“I look forward to seeing them around the city.”

Only 1% of the 2.5 billion coffee cups thrown away are actually recycled each year, and 46,000 pieces of plastic can be found in every square mile of ocean. Production of plastic is due to double over the next five years unless something changes.

While most take away hot drinks cups are now made of cardboard, they usually have a lining on the inside made from plastic so that they don’t absorb the liquid from hot drinks, making them difficult to recycle.

It is estimated that Manchester alone uses over 350,000 disposable coffee cups every day, and the vast majority end up in landfill or incineration. By using a reusable cup, Mancs are being urged to make the city just a little bit greener.

“Scientists predict that by 2050 there will be more metric tons of plastic in our oceans than fish. We need to make a change now,” said Chris Greenhalgh, CEO of I Love MCR. 

“We want to drive awareness across our city for this campaign and help to drive this change, away from single-use plastic.

“Manchester has always been at the forefront of change and innovation and this is another way we can help drive much needed awareness across the world by working together across Manchester.”

I Love MCR is the city brand and trusted symbol of civic pride adopted by Manchester, championing community, culture, diversity and unity. Launched in reaction to the riots in 2011, I Love MCR is an antidote to antisocial news and an answer to the local economy.

I Love MCR’s partner beneficiary charity is the We Love MCR Charity, whose main aim is to improve the lives and life chances of the people of Manchester. Formerly known as the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charity Appeal Trust, it adopted the look and feel of the I Love MCR campaign because of its association with positive action taken by residents and businesses.

I Love MCR reusable coffee cups will be given away in exchange for a charitable donation (suggested £2.50) on Friday 24th May from Fress, Pot Kettle Black, Nibble NQ, Beastro, Michael’s Coffee House, Second City at GRUB and Ancoats Coffee Co while stocks last. The cups are also available to buy online using the link below.

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