Following the initiatives already carried out by the Commissioner for Sustainability with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint associated with the consumption of coffee from FEUP’s Vending machines, we present the LOOPACK team!

Fun fact: did you know that the number of disposable cups that are wasted annually in vending machines alone in the European Union could exceed 21 million?

That represents more than 1 million tons of CO2, a footprint larger than 160,000 Europeans combined! This topic is no longer new, but the solutions so far have been ineffective: some encourage the use of personal cups and others, even worse, reduce coffee consumption.

Well, it’s time to change the paradigm and eliminate the problem at its root, without having to stop drinking coffee or having to carry a dirty cup behind you.

Imagine this: a reusable cup that can be used as a disposable, just buy the coffee, drink it, throw the cup away and it then magically appears back in the machine, reducing emissions by more than 50%. It is fascinating? We don’t want to brag, but yes, we think so too.

How can you do that? Just follow these steps:

1. Go to the Vending Machine at Edifício I at FEUP with your U.Porto card
2. You will see a beautiful Loopack dispenser next to the vending machine, just swipe your U.Porto card and a glass will fall out
3. Take the cup and use it for your coffee, in the same vending machine
4. Enjoy your well-deserved coffee break and, when you’re done, throw the cup in any of our smart bins
5. Smile, and enjoy the fact that you just helped the planet!
6. (Optional) Register on our platform so you can track your impact! Furthermore, for every 10 coffees you drink from our cups, and after you return them, we’ll buy you a coffee! Follow the link to see more (https://loopack.streamlit.app/)

Loopack will be at FEUP for the entire month of February, so take advantage and come and experience being sustainable without having to work with us!”