The island of Ithaca faces a structural plastic crisis driven by two distinct factors: a seasonal influx of 40,000 visitors and a deeply ingrained, year-round daily habit of “coffee-to-go” among locals. While the EU Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive provides a regulatory framework, local implementation lacks the infrastructure for functional alternatives. Currently, single-use plastic cups are the default serveware for daily coffee consumption and for the massive yachting and beach tourism sector, where glass is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
The “IthaCup” project aims to establish a system of reusable cups island-wide on Ithaca to reduce plastic waste generated during traditional summer festivals.
Refeelme is providing a stock of 30,000 reusable, highly durable cups—each equipped with a QR code—to 90% of the relevant local partners (hotels, restaurants, cafés). Through a deposit-return system (DRS), customers pay a small deposit, which is refunded when they return the cup to any participating establishment.
This pilot creates a practical “Small Island Blueprint,” proving that isolated communities can achieve professional circularity through shared infrastructure and smart logistics.
