Huskee has announced what it claims to be Australia’s first turnkey reusable cup system, ‘Borrow by Huskee,’ at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE).
The initiative, set for an official launch in Barangaroo in June, is designed to streamline the use of reusable takeaway cups, making it more convenient for consumers and businesses.
The program allows customers to borrow a Huskee reusable cup from participating venues when purchasing a drink.
The borrowed cups, available in 8oz and 12oz sizes, must be returned within 14 days to a participating cafe or SmartBin, where they are collected, washed, and redistributed for reuse.
Huskee co-founder Saxon Wright highlighted the importance of Borrow in removing barriers for consumers who wish to use reusable cups but may forget to bring their own. “We are incredibly proud to announce Borrow by Huskee,” Wright said.
“This new approach aims to simplify and streamline the BYO and reusable drink sector, removing the need to remember to bring a reusable cup. Our goal is to make it easier and more accessible than ever for people to support circular solutions.”
The system is integrated with a Borrow app, which allows users to scan a unique QR code on their cups when making a purchase.
According to Wright, the technology also enables Huskee to track cup usage and measure environmental impact, including carbon emissions and landfill diversion.
“This is cutting-edge technology that allows Huskee to capture information—including how long a coffee cup was borrowed, the number of reusable cups returned to a SmartBin per day, and data on the system’s impact,” he added.
Huskee’s SmartBin technology is designed to prevent contamination by ensuring only Borrow Cups with QR codes are accepted.
The Borrow app also features ‘Smart Locations,’ enabling users to locate the nearest bin for returning their cups.
The Borrow Cup itself is manufactured using 100% polypropylene (PP), a durable and food-safe plastic. The company’s WashHub in St Peters will clean, dry, and sanitize the returned cups before redistributing them to cafes, hotels, and other businesses.
Once a Borrow Cup reaches the end of its lifecycle, it will be repurposed through HuskeeLoop, the company’s closed-loop recycling initiative.
With the system now live, Huskee is engaging with cafes and businesses interested in joining the program. More information is available at https://borrowbyhuskee.co/.
