At MatterCup, we understand the importance of taking a drink to-go, and our goal is to make this process as easy, simple, and sustainable as possible.
Our innovation puts the reusable cup into the coffee shop, ready to use when you order. No need to remember your own reusable mug or create waste by taking a single use to-go cup. Simply leave a $1 deposit with your order to take your drink to-go in a reusable MatterCup, and return your cup to any partner cafe when finished to reclaim your deposit. The returned MatterCups are cleaned, professionally sanitized, and reused for the next order.
Our reusable alternative to the single-use to-go cup is 100% free to use and makes being sustainable easier than ever.
MatterCup’s innovation is rooted in implementing a deposit-based model, creating a nonbinding system that allows the user the flexibility and convenience of taking a single use cup to-go, without creating waste. To make the system as user-friendly as possible, MatterCup does not limit the amount of cups that one individual can check out at once, nor do we require returns by a specific time.
MatterCup is an early-stage startup focused on reducing and eliminating the waste produced by the billions of single-use cups that go to the landfill and contribute to the alarming waste problem in the US.
At MatterCup, we want to see a world free of single-use cups - because it matters. But, until then, we'll start with Davis, California. Our pilot program launched on August 1, 2022 with the ASUCD Coffee House on the UC Davis campus.
Our deposit-based, cup-sharing system actively reduces single-use cup waste and puts sustainability directly into your hands. By using our system, you can easily engage in sustainable actions every day, without the hassle of needing to remember and clean your own travel mug or producing single-use cup waste.
In the US alone, 120 billion single-use cups go to the landfill every year. Stacked end to end, these cups circle the Earth’s equator approximately 330 times.
Because single-use paper cups have a plastic lining that is impossible to separate from the paper cup itself, to-go cups for coffee cannot be recycled and must be disposed of in the landfill.
Compostable cups have attempted to make the disposal process more environmentally friendly, yet the bottom line is that compostable cups are still single-use and this does not reduce the overall production of waste. Unfortunately, a lack of compost bins, composting facilities, and consumer awareness complicate the process of composting these cups and reduce the intended impact.
Data from our user research indicates that people find reusable travel mugs a hassle to carry around and to clean, and many people forget to bring them in the first place.
Chantal is a recent UC Davis graduate with a B.A. in Communication and Art History, a Minor in German, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Her drive to launch MatterCup combines her long-time passion for sustainability and protecting the environment with her interest in entrepreneurship and business.
Lorenz completed his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University in Germany in 2021 and is now continuing his education at RWTH Aachen University by pursuing his M.S. in Chemical Engineering. Lorenz is especially keen on solving issues of waste reduction and developing new technologies to replace older, unsustainable and environmentally compromising systems.
Adam is a visual identity and web designer with a B.A. in Design from UC Davis. He specializes in website design and graphics that stand out through his passion for illustration, typography, and animation.
Savanna is a senior at UC Davis, pursuing a double major in Managerial Economics and Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. Before transferring to UC Davis in 2021, she became fascinated with global climate change and ways she could reduce her carbon footprint. She believes waste reduction is imperative for our future, and MatterCup is addressing this global problem by significantly reducing single-use cup waste.
We are currently expanding our team to support MatterCup’s growth! If you are interested in working on a student-led startup team and have a passion for zero waste and sustainability, we encourage you to reach out and contact us. We are seeking individuals with experience and interest in the following areas:
Marketing
Logistics
Operations
Manufacturing
Design / Creative Development
