I'd agree it would be tricky facilitate. I'll have to vote down until there's a suggestion as to how you could make this happen. If its primarily by selling cups, then I guess you'd want to start with a biz plan.

I just started reading about biotechnology to improve upon recycling, filtering, and soil replenishment:

http://www.fungi.com...mycotech/mycova.html

This might help you to develop your idea.

All I think about when I consider this idea is the guy on Prison Break carrying around his cup inside of the prison...

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I know Starbucks lets you bring in your own cup. Do they give a discount?

You could always have a few hundred cups made and start trying to distribute them in your area. Wouldn't be too expensive to try it out. (You would have to make some arrangements with a few local business owners, but shouldn't take too much effort)

Nice idea!

Interesting!

I agree with this idea. But i think its kinda bulky to be bringing that refillable cup anywhere you go. How does this idea makes a difference from a tupperware?

There is no how.
That makes it a fairytale.
Tommy

I like the concept but little fuzzy on details. What kind of audience are you hoping to catch? Business people might find it inconvenient to carry a cup around and then have to clean it out all the time. I was thinking of an idea to just have the "Sleeve" reusable and very collapsible - Maybe something that could be carried around and easily unhooked for a set of keys. While this is not as enviro-friendly as the entire cup, at least it would be a start and help to change the culture...

I agree it would be somewhat inconvenient. I believe people can handle a little inconvenience if they feel good about what they are doing. The goal is to reduce trash not only endng up in the landfills, but to reduce the act of producing the containers in the first place. This could reduce petroleum use in styrofoam production and the delivery of the product to the restaurant. In the case of eat in restaurants, you reduce the energy and water used in cleaning.

There is no competitive advantage here... nothing to keep me from taking my cup from my home.

There has to be acceptance in the rest community which can be approached as a truly honorable thong for a company to offer.

I may vouch for its innovativeness. Its nice.

If you could make a very easy to carry cup you would have to make sure people don't abuse it at fast food chains. Fast food chains make a significant amount of money just on selling cups to each customer with the promise of "unlimited" fill ups.

@bcforrester: The collapsible cup is an interesting idea, but the material would need to be pretty solid to avoid breaking and collapse to a very small size to be pocketable. Yet have enough room to comfortably fill up to at least the amount of a small.

I think you do have a very good idea, but as some other people said- there are some bugs that need to be worked out in your pitch! Work on it some more and re-pitch it again!

It seems like this would be a waste. Think about the energy you are using to transport this cup and keep it clean. It makes more sense to use cups restaurants provide because they can clean everything more efficiently. Also, as for fast food. How do you expect them to regulate prices because the price is dependent on quantity. Also, you would have to hand them an entire set of plates and stuff so they can transport the food to you!

This makes no sense. It would not work well or help the environment.

I think this idea might work well in a small community setting such as a college campus where you could negotiate the discount in advance so that the mug would be easily recognized (for a discount) by on-campus vendors.