The $0.25 Program

In Quebec, 1.5 to 2 million paper cups are thrown out annually, and millions of them are sent directly to the landfill. That amounts to 250 cups per person every year. Although the environmental impact of coffee cups is increasingly being considered and a growing number of compostable and biodegradable alternatives avoid ending up at the landfill, the end-of-life stage is only one part of their life cycle.

The $0.25 Program charges an additional fee of $0.25 for every disposable drink cup sold by participating cafés and restaurants. This program aims to encourage a change in customer behavior toward more responsible consumption of single-use products. The money raised is donated to La vague, where it is used to develop sustainability initiatives for participating businesses.

- The first objective of the initiative is to reduce the total volume of disposable drink cups sent to Quebec landfills.

- The second objective is to support local cafés and restaurants’ efforts to become more eco-friendly. To this end, the donations to La vague help finance the organisation’s mission to “research, share, develop, implement, and promote practical, eco-friendly solutions for Quebec’s dining scene.”

- The third objective is to promote responsible consumption among Quebec residents by

1) Incentivizing them to reduce disposable drink cup consumption with a proven strategy (as opposed to offering a discount upon presenting a reusable cup), and

2) Giving them a way to be eco-conscious while supporting local cafés and restaurants.

Twelve cafés have committed to the $0.25 Program and charge an additional fee for disposable cups ranging from $0.25 to $0.50. 

The owners of participating establishments have noticed that:

- Disposable cups need to be restocked less frequently,

- Reusable cup sales have increased/The Cup is more widespread,

- Customers have been using reusable cups more often.

The proceeds have allowed La vague to:

- Research the environmental impact of cafés and restaurants,

- Perform environmental audits on participating establishments, 

- Document practices and any problems with eco-consciousness encountered,

- Develop initiatives incorporating a range of circular economy strategies in response to identified needs.