Hong Kong’s Consumer Council (CC) has released findings from a wide-ranging field test on the logistics and incentives surrounding the use of reusable cups for takeaway drinks, highlighting a significant gap between sustainability intentions and operational reality across major chains. The extensive investigation, detailed in the latest issue of Choice magazine, assessed 20 popular beverage retailers, including global and local favourites such as McCafé, Starbucks, 7-Eleven, and Ah Yee Lemon Tea, executing 60 live transactions to evaluate green operating procedures, customer experience, and discount consistency.
The CC conducted the mystery shopper exercise between November and December 2024, focusing on immediate coffee outlets, bubble tea shops, and convenience stores that sell freshly made drinks. While all 20 merchants accepted customer-provided containers, the study revealed that many popular establishments failed to eliminate single-use waste entirely, undermining the core purpose of the “bring-your-own-cup” initiative.
Green Commitments Face Operational Hurdles
A key finding exposed what the CC deemed a failure to comply with “green operation” ideals, particularly in large chain segments. For instance, testing at McCafé showed staff repeatedly prepared both hot and cold drinks in disposable paper cups before transferring the contents into the consumer’s reusable container. A similar procedure was observed at 7CAFÉ, where staff first poured ice from a disposable plastic cup into the customer’s reusable cup before preparing the frozen coffee. These practices fundamentally negate the environmental benefits of using personal containers by generating single-use waste behind the counter.
Despite these operational shortcomings, the overall consumer experience was rated positively, with over 70% of participants expressing “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied,” noting that hand-shaken beverage shops performed notably better in seamless reusable cup adoption.
Inconsistent Incentives and Physical Limitations Dampen Enthusiasm
To encourage sustainable habits, 11 of the 20 merchants offered discounts, typically ranging from HK$1 to HK$5 off per drink, with one coffee shop offering 10% off. However, the study found promotional efforts lacking, with discount information often poorly displayed, making it easy for consumers to miss the incentive. Furthermore, store-to-store variance in applying these policies was prevalent, indicating a lack of consistent staff training.
While merchants universally accepted reusable cups, physical limitations proved challenging. At one convenience store offering fresh coffee, CC staff were unable to use their container twice because its height prevented it from fitting under the coffee machine spout. The lack of clear signage or staff guidance on cup restrictions meant customers were often forced to default back to disposable options. The CC lauded another large convenience store for providing clearer instructions, including specific height and volume restrictions (e.g., cups under 15 cm), calling this a model for other retailers.
Selecting the Ideal Travel Mug
In a supplementary test, the CC also evaluated 18 popular travel mugs on the market for their insulation, leak resistance, safety, and advertised capacity, offering consumers actionable data to support their green purchases.
Key Mug Performance Highlights:
- Insulation: Only two models, NOC and STANLEY, maintained hot temperatures above 60°C after six hours, demonstrating superior thermal retention.
- Leak Resistance: 12 models performed flawlessly when inverted for one hour. However, six brands, including THERMOS and STANLEY, exhibited minor leaks upon vertical inversion, though they passed the 45° tilt test.
- Safety: All stainless steel and ceramic-lined samples complied with European standards for heavy metal content, assuring consumer safety under normal use.
- Capacity Discrepancies: Five models showed volume discrepancies exceeding 10% of their stated capacity, failing to meet the European standard’s requirement of an accuracy within ±10% of the nominal volume.
The Consumer Council stresses that for Hong Kong’s “zero plastic” lifestyle transition to succeed, food and beverage operators must urgently standardize their procedures, enhance staff training, and clearly communicate all reusable cup policies, including specific dimensional restrictions and discount availability, to ensure consumer effort translates into meaningful waste reduction. Consumers are advised to check operational guidelines (e.g., cup size limits) before ordering and favor retailers that facilitate efficient, waste-free serving practices.