Sustainable coffee cups only cut waste when they get used again and again, so the material and the plan for the cup's end of life matter as much as the label. This collection brings together reusable cups made from coffee husk waste, recycled plastic and recycled stainless steel. Each cup comes as a sample pack or a wholesale case. Compare materials, prices and end-of-life options below.
What Makes a Coffee Cup Sustainable?
A coffee cup earns the word sustainable through three things: what it is made from, how many times it gets used, and what happens to it when it wears out.
Disposable cups fall short on the second point, because each one is used once. A 2021 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) review of cup life cycle studies found that single-use cups have similar environmental impacts whether they are made from paper, fossil-based plastic or bio-plastic.
What Is the Most Sustainable Coffee Cup for a Business?
The most sustainable coffee cup is a reusable one that gets used often and washed efficiently. UNEP's 2021 review found reusable cups have a lower climate impact than single-use cups, whatever their material. For the smallest footprint, pick a cup made from waste or recycled material with a take-back plan for end of life.
Reusable vs. Compostable vs. Paper: Which Eco-Friendly Coffee Cups Are Greenest?
Many eco-friendly coffee cups on the market are compostable or paper cups. They are still thrown away after one drink. Here is how they compare.
| Cup type | Times used | End of life | What the UNEP review found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper cup | Once | Recyclable, but recycling rates are low | The least problematic single-use choice, especially if recycling rates improve |
| Compostable (PLA) cup | Once | Needs an industrial composting facility | Facilities are often limited, so most end up in landfill or as litter |
| Reusable cup | Many times | Washed and reused, then recycled or taken back | Lower climate impact than single-use cups, regardless of material |
Why the Number of Reuses Matters
A reusable cup takes more to make than a single-use cup, and it pays that back with each use. The point where it matches a single-use cup is called breakeven.
In most of the studies UNEP analyzed, breakeven ranged from 10 to 670 uses, depending on the materials and how cups were washed. In every case, that number fell well within the assumed life span of the reusable cups.
Washing is the largest part of a reusable cup's footprint, so UNEP recommends an efficient, fully loaded dishwasher, or cold water for hand washing.
Compare the Sustainable Huskee Cups in This Collection
Every cup here is reusable. The main differences are material, care and look.
| Range | Made from | Care | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HuskeeOriginal | Repurposed coffee husk in a food-safe, BPA-free polymer | Dishwasher safe | Dine-in and to-go cafe service, 3oz to 16oz |
| HuskeeRenew | Tritan Renew 50, certified 50% post-consumer recycled plastic | Dishwasher safe, stain-resistant | A glass-like cup in Amber or Smoke |
| HuskeeSteel | 91% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, vacuum insulated | Hand wash with mild soap | Drinks that stay hot up to 3 hours or cold up to 8 hours |
Coffee husk is a byproduct of coffee production that would otherwise go to waste. Huskee gives it a new job as a light, stackable cup, and universal lids and saucers fit every size from 6oz to 16oz in the full coffee husk range.
What Do Sustainable Coffee Cups Cost Wholesale?
The real cost of a greener cup is its price per piece, spread across every use. Here is what each product costs in a wholesale case, next to what it is made from and where it goes when it wears out. The range runs from the smallest size in each range to its largest, and color does not change the price.
| Product | Waste or recycled content | End of life | Cost per piece in a case |
|---|---|---|---|
| HuskeeOriginal cups | Repurposed coffee husk | HuskeeLoop | About $4.37 to $7.39 per cup |
| HuskeeOriginal cup and lid | Repurposed coffee husk | HuskeeLoop | About $9.55 to $11.40 per set |
| HuskeeRenew cups | 50% post-consumer recycled plastic | HuskeeLoop | About $7.29 to $10.19 per cup |
| HuskeeRenew cup and lid | 50% post-consumer recycled plastic | HuskeeLoop | About $12.89 to $17.60 per set |
| HuskeeSteel cup and lid | 91% post-consumer recycled stainless steel | HuskeeLoop | About $21.54 to $23.57 per set |
Every product also comes in a smaller sample pack, so you can test a cup before buying a full case.
What Happens to the Cups at End of Life?
Every cup and lid in this collection is part of HuskeeLoop, Huskee's closed-loop recycling program. Worn products are collected and turned into new products, so the material stays in use.
Cafes can also get more uses out of each cup with a cup swap program. A customer returns a used HuskeeCup and leaves with a clean one, which adds to the number of times each cup gets used.
How to Choose the Greenest Option for Your Business
Run through these checks before you order:
- Count the reuses. The more often a cup goes through service and the dish pit, the sooner it reaches breakeven.
- Plan for end of life. Make sure worn cups have somewhere to go, such as HuskeeLoop.
- Test first. Try a sample pack in real service before you buy a case.
Our guide on what to check before ordering covers more to weigh before you buy.
When a Reusable Cup Isn't the Greenest Choice
Reusable cups are not right for every business:
- No efficient way to wash: without a good dishwasher or a cold-water routine, the benefit shrinks.
- Cups that won't come back: at one-off events, guests may walk off with cups, and a lost cup may never reach breakeven.
- High-volume to-go with no return system: if every drink leaves for good, UNEP found paper to be the least problematic single-use option.
- Very high paper recycling rates: UNEP notes paper cups could beat reusable cups on climate impact if more than 80% of them were recycled, a rate that is seldom achieved.
- Dishwasher-only kitchens: HuskeeSteel should be hand washed, so pick HuskeeOriginal or HuskeeRenew instead.
Who Supplies These Cups in the US
David oversees US distribution of these cups at HuskeeWholesale, Huskee's authorized US distributor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Huskee cups sustainable?
Huskee cups are sustainable because they are reusable and made from waste or recycled material. HuskeeOriginal uses repurposed coffee husk, a byproduct of coffee processing. HuskeeRenew uses Tritan Renew 50, which is certified 50% post-consumer recycled plastic. HuskeeSteel uses 91% post-consumer recycled stainless steel. Every range is also part of HuskeeLoop, which collects end-of-life products and turns them into new ones.
Are reusable coffee cups better than disposable cups?
Reusable coffee cups are better than disposable cups once they are reused enough times. The 2021 UNEP review of cup life cycle studies found reusable cups have a lower climate impact than single-use cups, whatever the material. In most of the studies it analyzed, the breakeven point ranged from 10 to 670 uses, depending on the cups compared and how they were washed. Steady reuse and efficient washing make the difference.
Are compostable coffee cups better than reusable cups?
Compostable coffee cups are usually not better than reusable cups. A compostable cup is still used only once, and UNEP found single-use cups have similar impacts whether they are paper, plastic or bio-plastic. The most common compostable plastic, PLA, only breaks down in industrial composting conditions. Those facilities are often limited or missing, so most compostable cups end up in landfill or as litter.
Which Huskee cup is right for my business?
The right cup comes down to how you serve. Choose HuskeeOriginal for dine-in and classic cafe service, since it pairs with universal lids and saucers. Choose HuskeeRenew for a stain-resistant, glass-like cup in Amber or Smoke. Choose HuskeeSteel when customers need drinks to stay hot for up to 3 hours, as long as your team can hand wash. Our tips on picking a reusable coffee cup compare more materials.
Are Huskee cups BPA-free and food safe?
Yes, Huskee cups are BPA-free and food safe. HuskeeOriginal is made from a food-contact-approved, BPA-free polymer that contains coffee husk, and it does not change the flavor of your coffee. HuskeeRenew is free of BPA, BPS, BPF and BPB. HuskeeSteel is BPA free and is ceramic lined in every color except Brushed Steel.
Can Huskee cups be recycled?
Yes, Huskee cups are recycled through HuskeeLoop, Huskee's closed-loop recycling program. Worn cups and lids are collected at the end of their life and turned into new products. That keeps the coffee husk, recycled plastic and recycled steel in use. You can also extend the life of HuskeeRenew and HuskeeSteel cups by replacing a damaged silicone gasket.
Do you sell sustainable coffee cups wholesale?
Yes, we sell sustainable coffee cups wholesale. Every cup in this collection comes as a small sample pack or a wholesale case of 48 cups or 12 cup-and-lid sets. Cafes, roasters, offices and retailers across the US can order direct. In a case, prices run from about $4.37 per HuskeeOriginal cup to about $23.57 per HuskeeSteel cup and lid set.
Every Reuse Counts
The greenest cup is the one that keeps coming back. Choose the material your team can wash efficiently and your customers will reuse, and every extra trip through service carries that cup further past breakeven.
