Cup ban hurts coffee chain

THE owner of an independent coffee chain has urged rival businesses to follow its lead in banning single-use cups – despite the firm losing a quarter of its takeaway sales.

Boston Tea Party usually sells about £1million worth of carryout drinks per year but has lost £250,000 in sales since it started the scheme in June.

However, chief executive Sam Roberts said he is happy to take the financial hit to help the environment. He told the BBC: ‘We felt this was a financial loss we had to take. We want this to be a call to action to other companies. There are too many operators ... putting their profits before the planet.’

The Bristol- based chain, which has 22 branches in the UK, said so far it has sold 40,000 reusable cups and prevented 125,000 cups going to landfill.