What's up with the Cup?

Kinsale Community School, in partnership with Transition Town Kinsale, is proud to announce the launch of its groundbreaking reusable cup campaign aimed at reducing single-use plastics in the school, town, and community. 

Dubbed the "What's up with the Cup?" initiative, this innovative project is spearheaded by Transition Year students from Kinsale Community School, who recognised the urgent need to address the pervasive issue of single-use plastics while promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness within their community. 

The campaign was inspired by the staggering statistic that over 200 million single-use coffee cups are disposed of in Ireland annually. With the recent purchase of a Coffee Truck by the school, named the “Grind School”, students identified an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by transitioning from disposable cups to reusable ones. 

"The switch to reusable cups is not only a small step for our school but a giant leap for our environment," said Holly Murphy, member of the TY. "By eliminating single-use plastics from our school and community, we're paving the way for a more sustainable future." 

The project has already gained traction, with Seeds Bakery in Kinsale successfully integrating the 2Go Cup into their business operations. The campaign aims to inspire other local businesses to follow suit, further reducing the use of single-use plastics in the area. 

Key benefits of the 2GoCup project, as identified by local businesses and consumers, include higher profit margins, positive public relations, environmental sustainability, and cost savings. By embracing reusable cups, businesses not only demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship but also contribute to a cleaner, greener planet. 

"Our transition year students have demonstrated exceptional leadership and initiative in championing this important cause," said Kathleen O’Brien, Deputy Principal at Kinsale Community School. "Their dedication to reducing single-use plastics is inspiring, and we're excited to see the positive impact of their efforts ripple throughout our school and community." 

The "What's up with the Cup?" campaign underscores Kinsale Community School's commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and community engagement. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions like the reusable cup initiative, the school aims to create a more sustainable future for generations to come. 

Diane O'Shea, Nastasha O'Shea, Klaus Harvey, Rafella Valenti, Fergal McCarthy, Kathleen O'Brien, Eimear Ní Chearnaigh, Holly Murphy, Shea O'Connor, Liam Edwards, Ingrid Kelly, Cllr Kevin Murphy, Catherine Coughlan, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan

Gemma Cooper