Aluminum to-go cups moving forward after successful pilot program among Savannah businesses

Your next to-go beer or cocktail from your favorite downtown Savannah spot could be a little better for the environment. Several businesses are ready to officially add sustainable aluminum cups as a bar staple after a successful pilot program wrapped up last month. 

“The aluminum cup program has been a great addition, as well as very appropriate,” said Kevin Ryan, CEO of Service Brewing Company on Indian Street. 

“We believe the aluminum cups are creating less waste, provide a better vessel for serving to-go beer, and can be re-used by our guests at home or on any of their outdoor adventures."

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Service Brewing was one of 13 businesses located within the city’s to-go cup zone that participated in the two-month long pilot program.

“It was overwhelmingly positive from the business side, and from the customer side, and visitors and residents, their experience all the way around,” said Alderman Nick Palumbo, who helped spearhead the change to the city’s alcohol ordinance to add aluminum cups as an option alongside paper and plastic. 

Now that the pilot program is finished, those businesses that want to continue or new businesses that want to have the cups as an option can figure out the best plan for their business going forward.

While the cost of aluminum cups is more expensive than traditional plastic or paper, the use of the cups by businesses remains completely optional.

Local businesses have positive response to pilot program

Abe's on Lincoln and b. Matthew's Eatery, both a part of the Gaslight Group, participated in the pilot program. Carey Ferrara, director of sales and marketing for Gaslight said, overall, the program was excellent with no complaints from guests or staff, only compliments, but at present time the group won't be sticking with the cups due to cost. 

“However, we would like to continue and are actively working towards a solution to the prohibitive cost as well as the challenge of storing the large number of cups that would be required in order to get the cost to a manageable level,” she said. 

Sustainability and the use of more eco-friendly products has long been a part of Gaslight’s business model, and Ferrara said the restaurant group has been talking to other restaurants and groups for years about joining forces to buy in bulk in order to make using eco-friendly products more affordable.

Currently businesses must buy 50,000 cups to get the price down to .28-.35 per cup.

“We would love to see another agency in Savannah take this project on. Specifically buying them in a large enough quantity to get the price down to a reasonable level so that more Savannah businesses could offer the cups,” she said. 

“Also, storing the cups in a centralized location so that we can replenish our supply as needed.”

Those businesses that are continuing to stock the cups will have options when it comes to design. Although the pilot cups feature the City of Savannah’s logo, Palumbo said the cups are now a blank canvas for businesses and can include their own logos or other designs. 

"Our plan is to continue to move forward with the aluminum cups at the brewery and personalize them with our branding. Since the announcement, Service Brewing staff and guests have been excited about the cups from a sustainability, drinkability, and coolness - in both senses - standpoint,” Ryan said

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The cups also featured a QR code to gather survey results from users. The survey garnered a total of 729 responses and 96% reported that they preferred the aluminum cup over a plastic one; 91.5% rated their experience with the cups a 5/5; 83% liked that the cup kept their drink cooler and 85% liked that the cups are better for the environment compared to plastic. 

“The people have spoken loud and clear that they love the aluminum go cups over the plastic cups,” Palumbo said. 

Pilot program proves eco-friendly approach works

The Georgia Water Coalition also took notice of the cups. On Tuesday the group named the pilot program as a Georgia Water Coalition Clean 13 honoree. The annual list highlights the work accomplished by individuals, businesses, industries, non-profit organizations and state and local governments to protect Georgia’s water. 

The cups are manufactured by Ball Corp., which has two manufacturing plants in Rome, Georgia. Palumbo said Ball is currently the only company manufacturing the cups, but competition from a Mississippi-based company may be on the way.

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Since the price of the cups depends on the market availability of recycled aluminum, a competitor would also help provide some stability, Palumbo said.  

“We're looking forward to getting a competitor in that marketplace that's really going to show their stuff and help deliver the best product for businesses, residents and visitors,” he said. 

Palumbo said the pilot program was truly a team effort. 

“I'm really proud of the team Savannah folks [who amidst everything else that's going on, still pulled it together to make this happen and give it a shot,” he said.

Katie Nussbaum is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Contact her at knussbaum@savannahnow.com. Twitter: KnussSMN