Photo by: Shuyi Laio

Coffee mugs for the Eco-Cup program are currently for sale on campus.

 The red, portable mugs printed with the Denver logo are $5 at Sodexo locations, including Jazzman’s Café, the Penrose Book Drop Café and Newman Center Espresso.

 Similarly-designed mugs with “Eco-Cup” printed on the back will be available in the coming weeks, said Erin Hough, vice-chair of the USG Sustainability Committee.

 Sponsored by the DU Environmental Team and the USG Sustainability Committee, the Eco-Cup and sticker program was designed to reduce waste and build community. It has been in the works for about a year.

 

It all began because of the large amount of waste generated from the number of hot cups thrown away on campus, she said.

 

The student organization sticker project, designed to correspond with the Eco-Cup, will officially be launched April 22, Earth Day.

 

Student organizations send the Environmental Team a logo to be made into stickers. Students can attach the stickers to their Eco-Cups to show their involvement on campus.

 

The stickers are free for student organizations, and are paid for by the Environmental Team.

 

The quick and positive response from student organizations has been very encouraging, said Hough.

 

The goal of the program is to build community at DU and help student organizations get their names out to the student population.

 

“The goal is to create a fad,” she said.

 

The Environmental Team orders the Eco-Cups. The $5 price tag is close to the price the group buys them for, so students get a deal on their purchase.

Sodexo currently offers a large coffee for the price of a small if students bring their own mug, and Hough is working with Sodexo on developing a special discount for students with Eco-Mugs.

 

Coffee shops near campus also offer discounts for bringing a mug.

 

Starbucks gives a 10 cent discount, Kaladi Brothers Coffee charges for a small coffee regardless of the size of the mug and Stella’s Coffeehaus offers $1.25 drip coffee for bringing a mug.