A groundbreaking reusable takeaway cup system has launched in Sheffield

27th October 2025

It’s time to say goodbye to single-use plastic for good.

We all love a takeaway coffee, but you’re about to love it even more when you hear about Delete.

Delete is a revolutionary new system determined to help decrease the environmental implications of disposable cups across Sheffield.

The mission is simple, to ‘Delete’ the need for single-use plastics, one cup at a time.

Eleven coffee shops and cafes in Sheffield have joined an alliance to take part in the Delete system reusable cup trial.

Together, forming a network which will keep reusable Delete Cups circulating throughout the city centre, instead of immediately contributing to landfill.

So, how does it work?

Any hot or cold drink purchased from a participating venue can be served in a Delete Cup – a reusable option made from polypropylene.

Each cup has a microchip on the base which is scanned to ‘activate’ it and when this occurs a refundable £1 deposit will be added to the sale, and the process begins.

When taking the cup away, customers have two weeks to return it to any of the locations in the trial by dropping it into one of the special Delete collection points. Cups are then collected by the baristas to re-scan it back into the system for the £1 deposit to be refunded. The cups are then cleaned and put back into circulation.

It really is that simple.

If 1,000 plastic-lined paper cups are substituted for the Delete option, an estimated carbon emissions saving of 110 kg CO₂e can potentially be made, which is the equivalent of driving 350km in a petrol car. How mega is that?

Owner, Ali Hood, says: “We’re a nation of hot drink lovers and coffee and café culture is growing rapidly in the UK but 2.5bn single-use cups are being thrown away each year. The purpose of Delete is to introduce a solution that’s easier than ever for all to get involved in and ultimately make throwaway cups obsolete.

“We believe the trial here in Sheffield will demonstrate how easily Delete Cups can be scaled throughout the UK, and beyond. The software collects lots of fantastic, real-time data, showing the locations each cup has been to and how many times it has been scanned, meaning each shop can engage customers in unique, ever-evolving stories of how the local community is making a difference. Crucially the software does not collect any data on customers, including bank details.”

The list of participating coffee shops are:

Café 420
Cloud Coffee
Curiositea Sheffield
Marmadukes
Mesters Market
South Street Kitchen
TA
The Chakra Lounge
Union Street

To find your nearest coffee shop and more about Delete, take a look at their website here.

Featured image – The Sheff