Waitrose free coffee cups - virtue signalling?

[runningpram]

Ok so probably the most middle class post ever but I was in Waitrose with DD and saw that you now need to bring your own cup for the free instore coffee - there are no disposable cups on offer any more.
Fair enough - however the rest of the store is a bit of a sea of plastic. For instance if you want to buy a croissant and put it in your basket the only option was plastic bags - which presumably would get chucked away after a few seconds but would litter the oceans for hundreds of years. Is the coffee thing therefore just virtue signalling or AIBU?

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Storing cleaning chemicals in drinks bottles is dangerous.

'Virtue signalling' - a phrase beloved by people who can't be arsed to change their anti-social behaviour and want to belittle those who are trying their best.

YABU. How difficult is it to take a cup if you want a coffee.

I think it’s simple economics. If you only provide free coffee to someone who has their own cup, you give away less coffee.

Is the coffee thing therefore just virtue signalling or AIBU?

I take a coffee cup to Waitrose because I want a coffee.

You see such a thing as virtue signalling because you have low self esteem.

I take a cup to Waitrose but rarely use it because the coffee has become disgusting so I don't bother unless desperate and then get a tea instead, which is also foul. Would rather pay and get a decent drink.

I have been perplexed for a long time about the amount of plastic packaging they continued to use, although apparently they are gradually making changes. What really bothers me is the amount of stuff they sell that contains palm oil, I look at the vegetarian and vegan food in despair. Wanting to buy it because I don't want to harm animals and not being able to buy it because of the damage it causes.

If they can't commit to doing it properly, it seems like a waste of time.

The last time I had a coffee in a supermarket they used china cups. Disposable cups doesn't sound very "Waitrose", I'm surprised they ever did that. What's wrong with normal cups?

And anyone bringing their own cup presumably has to wrap it in some kind of plastic to avoid getting coffee drips in their bag when they leave, and then throw the plastic bag out when they get home. I agree, it sounds like sneaky cost cutting under the guise of environmentalism.

And anyone bringing their own cup presumably has to wrap it in some kind of plastic to avoid getting coffee drips in their bag when they leave, and then throw the plastic bag out when they get home. I agree, it sounds like sneaky cost cutting under the guise of environmentalism.

Nobody puts a reusable cup in a plastic bag. Just keep it upright. This is a stupid argument!

Nobody puts a reusable cup in a plastic bag. Just keep it upright. This is a stupid argument!

Absolutely.
I use a reusable cup pretty much everyday. It happens to have a lid....
And I don't throw away clean plastic bags. I put them in the plastic bag bag at home and reuse them.

Our Waitrose is great. Fruit/veg, bakery, a large selection frozen food, pasta and grains and pulses, wine, beer, sauces, juices, washing up and laundry products, meat and fish, all unwrapped and help yourself, plastic free.
Waitrose are doing a lot more than others.
Can’t see how it’s virtue signalling.

I take my reuseable, lidded cup with me in my shopping bag. It's easy.

And anyone bringing their own cup presumably has to wrap it in some kind of plastic to avoid getting coffee drips in their bag when they leave, and then throw the plastic bag out when they get home. I agree, it sounds like sneaky cost cutting under the guise of environmentalism.

No they don't.

And anyone bringing their own cup presumably has to wrap it in some kind of plastic to avoid getting coffee drips in their bag when they leave

The concept of a refillable 'flask' or 'water bottle' has been around for quite some time. If you are worried about drips buy one with a lid.

The last time I had a coffee in a supermarket they used china cups. Disposable cups doesn't sound very "Waitrose", I'm surprised they ever did that. What's wrong with normal cups?

Sorry, I think you are genuinely misunderstanding what is being provided.

This isn't a cup of coffee in the cafe. Every Waitrose has a machine in the main supermarket that dispenses coffee. They used to provide a Starbucks type insulated disposable cup with a lid. Now you buy a re-usable cup or flask specifically designed for take away coffee. All the main coffee chains also now encourage their customers to use re-usable cups.

And anyone bringing their own cup presumably has to wrap it in some kind of plastic to avoid getting coffee drips in their bag when they leave, and then throw the plastic bag out when they get home.

Er, no. I don't know anyone who does that. It has a lid.

YABU for using the phrase “virtue signaling” which is, without competition, the most annoying phrase in the English language

YABU for using the phrase “virtue signaling” which is, without competition, the most annoying phrase in the English language

It fits very annoying and hypocritical behaviour.

Waitrose is also working towards removing black plastic from its own brand products (eg microwave meals) as black plastic is less recyclable.

'Virtue signalling' - a phrase beloved by people who can't be arsed to change their anti-social behaviour and want to belittle those who are trying their best.

Also used to describe those who proclaim to be fully on board with to a particular cause just to appear 'on trend' or morally superior to others. Personally I think any action is better than nothing but I draw the line at those who preach and get all virtuous because have a refillable coffee cup when they would rather die than use public transport or walk anywhere.

Oh just fuck OFF

Waitrose withdrew free single-use coffee cups and started selling re-useable cups last year. It definitely isn’t a recent thing. At the same time, they withdrew the free coffee offer from their in-store cafés. As a result, they now give away a fraction of the number of free coffees every day, according to the staff at my local branch.

It was 100% about cost-cutting, but instead of being honest they attempted to justify it by citing environmental concerns.

It was 100% about cost-cutting

What is wrong with cost-cutting? Why can't it be about cost cutting and less waste?

Every company that does any kind of promotion or special offer will review it's effectiveness and change the mechanic if it isn't working.

I'm just happy to get the free coffee.

It's further up the thread, but plastic isn't really the demon it's made out to be. If it's disposed of properly or recycled, a single use plastic bag is better than a single use paper bag if you look at all environmental impacts. Paper production uses a lot of water, is polluting and paper is heavier than plastic so has a greater carbon footprint when transported. A plastic bag can be reused more times than a paper one, too.

As for Waitrose, do keep up love, this change happened ages ago, at least a year. Good on them for learning from their mistakes.

What is wrong with cost-cutting?

I’m not suggesting there is anything wrong with cost-cutting. I’m simply pointing out that this, and not environmental concerns, was the real reason for the withdrawal of the disposable cups (source : Waitrose ‘partners’).