When Jamie and Abigail Forsyth started a café business in Melbourne, Australia in 1998, disposable cups were just entering the public landscape. In 2007, following unsuccessful trials of existing reusable cups, they decided to design and make their own – a barista standard reusable cup for people to enjoy better coffee on the go.
They took a gamble that usability, sustainable manufacturing practice, and design aesthetics could drive behaviour change and make a difference in how people think about convenience culture. The first KeepCups were sold to coffee-loving Melbournians at a small, underground design market. The reuse movement grew from there, with the support of the café and roaster community endorsing change.
KeepCup has grown from a solution to a problem, to define a product category. Today, KeepCups are used in more than 65 countries around the world. KeepCup users divert millions of disposable cups from landfills every day, and through their actions inspire others to do the same.