FAQ’s
All of our cups are made right here in the UK. This helps reduce transport emissions from those that import and also means we have the correct UKCA certification for our cups!
All our cups are made in the UK and are made of polypropylene making them fully recyclable at the end of their life. Polypropylene is shatterproof making them safe for all events and are very durable.
We will ensure we will deliver your cups for the date when they are required. Our standard lead time is 3-4 weeks but please speak our sales team if you are working to a deadline as we will always do our best to accommodate your order arriving at the earliest convenience. We have been known to turn orders around in less than 48 hours!
We will ensure we will deliver your cups for the date when they are required. Our standard lead time is 3-4 weeks but please speak our sales team if you are working to a deadline as we will always do our best to accommodate your order arriving at the earliest convenience. We have been known to turn orders around in less than 48 hours!
Running a deposit scheme isn’t necessary for all events, however, they are a popular choice, although there are alternatives available.
Deposit schemes add a value to the cup, having paid to use their reusable cup, the customer tends to take more responsibility for it and return it to the bar meaning fewer cups are left lying around for cleaning teams at the event.
A levy system is also just as popular, and we are more than happy to discuss this with you to see what best suits your needs.
How it works #
When discussing your order with our team, all payment terms are discussed. Our bank details can be found on the bottom of our invoices and once we have received payment, we will begin the process of making your cups.
This all depends on how many cups you have ordered. Tracking is provided so you can be kept up to date as to when you should receive your cups.
There is no law that states you cannot serve a drink into a reused cup provided by the customer, as long as there is no risk of cross-contamination, ie. contact between a dirty cup and the bar tap. However, the Weights and Measures Act 1985 requires that the sale of alcohol be measured by one of three ways: the container (eg. bottle), bar cup (CE marked pint to the line cup), or the pouring method (eg. MDU). This means that if there is any doubt about the size of cup(s) being presented for reuse at a bar, ie. if it is not CE-marked, the bar is responsible for ensuring the correct measurement of liquid.
Yes, 100%! Our main priority is to prevent single use plastic entering landfill, and by producing our reusable, recyclable cups that are never thrown away, reusable cups are more sustainable. Our cups can be washed and reused hundreds of times and at the end of their life can be recycled.
Paper has been touted as a solution to replacing plastic, but this is also problematic. Global forests play a unique role, supporting a stunning array of biodiversity, removing and storing carbon. The pulp and paper industry is responsible for substantial impacts to the environment, including climate change. Paper has lower CO2e emissions per tonne, but more material is needed to achieve the required stiffness than for a plastic equivalent. In an event industry context, paper cups are lined with plastic or PLA to ensure that they do not leak or degrade while being used, meaning they are a mixed material, which is not recyclable or compostable.
We are now surrounded by ‘bio’ packaging options. None of these biomaterials is a solution to environmental issues, for a number of reasons: Most ‘bio’ packaging is PLA plastic (polylactic acid). Made from various plant-based sources such as cornstarch or sugar cane, it’s a polymer often used to substitute petroleum-based plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Crystalline PLA has low biodegradability in the natural environment and requires a high-heat industrial facility to compost, of which there are few in the UK. In short, it is not widely recycled in the UK and is designed for disposal. As a result, PLA cups (and other PLA products) are generally either landfilled or incinerated – the latter resulting in a small amount of energy capture, which is minor compared to the energy input that is lost in manufacture.
There are other problems with PLA. It looks and feels like plastic. This leads to it being indistinguishable from PET and other plastics, both at events (where it can confuse event-goers from using the correct bins and waste separation efforts on-site) and in waste-processing facilities. Composting facilities cannot differentiate between bioplastics and conventional plastics.
We offer personalised reusable cups with very low minimum order quantities. However, we also offer a rental option, which often suits events using reusable cups for the first time.
Drinksmate will assist you in ensuring your transition to the use of reusable cups is as smooth as possible. Our experienced team will help you determine the best solution suited to your specific event or venue.
We offer reusable cups:
- As part of a serviced contract
- Under rental agreements
- For purchase
Please discuss the options that will work best for your venue. We can also provide professional washing and drying services and offer storage of your cups.
Speak with us
If you have any questions about buying vs renting, our support services or anything else then let’s have a chat to discuss !
