Tim Hortons, which had paused the use of reusable cups during the COVID pandemic, is relaunching the program, offering customers as 10-cent discount for use of their own clean, reusable cup, the brand said Tuesday.
The quick-service division of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International Inc. also said customers, for the first time, will be able to order cold beverages in their reusable cups. Those include Iced Capps, cold brew, iced coffees and iced lattes, Quencher beverages, lemonade and frozen lemonade, Creamy Chills and smoothies.
"We've been looking forward to accepting reusable cups in restaurants again and have been working hard with Tims restaurant owners to ensure we do so safely and consistently — including with cold beverages," said Paul Yang, Tim Hortons’ senior director of innovation and sustainability, in a statement.
Starbucks Corp. in March outlined plans to move away from disposable cups.
Yang of Tim Hortons added: "In 2019, we reduced our usage of single-use cups by serving nearly 15 million hot beverage orders in reusable cups. Now by offering the option of getting cold beverages served in reusable cups, the potential to reduce the use of single-use cups is even greater. We know we can do better, and we know our guests will be excited to participate with us in reducing waste.”
Select Tims restaurants are also in the process of reintroducing in-restaurant dishware for guests to be served with, including mugs, plates and cutlery.
Tim Hortons said customers must bring a clean reusable cup that is in good condition, as team members will not be cleaning guests' cups or serving beverages in cups that are cracked or have visible damage. Those ordering in a drive-thru lane must also have a lid for their reusable cup to ensure they can be served safely.
Tim Hortons said that, in the future, customers will be able to use the Tims app to order ahead and let the restaurant know they will be bringing their own cup. Team members will prepare the beverage in advance with a clean in-restaurant reusable cup and then transfer it to the customer’s cup upon arrival.
Tims reusable drinkware is available for purchase at participating restaurants. A new lineup of stainless steel mugs, tumblers and straws will be available in participating restaurants at the end of the month.
Tim Hortons, founded in 1964, has more than 5,100 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world.
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