Bring Your Own

Businesses

Businesses all over Dorset are making changes to incorporate sustainable practices into the way they work, and BYO is a simple action that all businesses can take to turn the tide on single use packaging. We will deliver posters and window stickers to you, so you can tell your customers all about it!

Check out some of the businesses who have already signed up to BYO!

Want to join them? Take part in the campaign and join the BYO movement by contacting Litter Free Dorset on Instagram, Facebook, or email litterfreedorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

We also invite you to join Litter Free Dorset’s Sustainable Business Network and take advantage of free resources, networking events, expert speakers, and membership of a community of likeminded businesses.

BYO Resources

We have lots of different posters available for you to display in your shop. Download one here today or get in contact if you would like a printed one and window sticker!

Making BYO More Effective

Do you currently offer a discount on customers who bring their own cup? That’s fantastic! But we’ve got some important news for you…

Studies have shown that a levy is much more effective in behaviour change than a discount and it is down to two major behaviour theories, anchoring and loss aversion.

Anchoring is the behaviour we exhibit where decision making is heavily reliant on the first piece of information we are given. When out shopping we are “anchored” to the normal price that something costs, when something is discounted you feel like you’re getting a good deal, whereas when a price is increased you feel like you’re being ripped off. And this is where loss aversion comes into play. Loss aversion describes the idea that an individual perceives a real or potential loss more severely than an equivalent gain. So, a price increase on a product is going to create a larger emotional and psychological affect on a person than the equivalent discount on a product. It is these feelings and emotions that will lead to behaviour change.

The best example of this is the 5p charge on plastic bags that was introduced in 2015. Within one year plastic bag usage dropped by more than 80%.

Now you don’t need to change your prices at all! Simply quote the standard price of your coffee as the price that you would offer when someone brings their own reusable cup, then add the levy to anyone who requires a cup.

Get Involved

Reducing single use doesn’t stop at BYO, here are some other tips you can use to make your business more sustainable.

1. Go Digital! Have lots of information and handouts for customers? Pack all the information into a document or webpage and create a QR code so your customers have all the information they need straight onto their device. Useful for estate agents, law firms, accountants.
2. Encourage staff to BYO water bottles and coffee cups. If you have an office with drinking water provide a kettle so that employees can make their own coffee instead of getting coffee in a disposable cup.
3. Implement a borrow scheme. This can range from providing a take-away meal on a plate, floral arrangements in a vase, or a refillable cup for an event or festival. We have 1000 cups you can borrow for any event, just get in touch!
4. Alternative refill options. Spas, hairdressers, and salons, can you offer alternative refill options? Hair products, perfume, lotions.
5. Let’s give Dorset’s towns and villages a BYO identity. Holiday accommodations can let people know at point of booking when they are visiting Dorset, they should be bringing their own cups and containers, if this isn’t possible offer a BYO hire kit for them to use during their stay. You can include cups, bottles, containers and even beach toys!