Last month, the Scottish Government announced a landmark consultation on the possible introduction of a 25p charge on all single-use cups when buying a drink, regardless of the material.

But a crucial reason behind this intervention was notably lost in the conversations that followed: the environmental importance.

To put it bluntly, we’re in a climate emergency; we need to take ambitious action now to ease the pressure on our planet. Moving away from single-use items, and switching to reuse where possible, is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do for the environment.

Between 2021-22, an estimated 388 million single-use cups were used in Scotland, equating to 71 cups per person, per year. That’s one of the highest rates compared to EU nations. It’s a startling figure, reflective of a throwaway culture that has a direct impact on our planet.

If we’re serious about tackling the climate crisis, we need to change-up our consumption of goods and materials, keeping items in use for longer and remaking and recycling items at end of life. This is known as a circular economy. Disposable products, like single-use cups, are in direct contravention of that goal and are working against Scotland’s circular economy ambitions.

With our throwaway culture so engrained, doing things differently can feel like a mighty ask. But Zero Waste Scotland has supported people and businesses in opting for reusable options and moving away from single-use before, and with great success.

Our Ditching Disposables pilot, which coincided with the Scottish Government’s ban on single- use plastics in 2022, saw us work with the hospitality sector to help venues reduce and eliminate their reliance on single-use items.

After 12 months’ participation, businesses had seen some staggering results, with many reporting a more than 90% drop in take-up of single-use items.

Meanwhile, when the Scottish Government introduced the single-use carrier bag charge, back in 2014, it had a clear aim of encouraging bag reuse and reducing litter.

It was an adjustment for all: from retailers understanding the regulations and training their staff, to the public now being encouraged to bring reusable bags for their weekly shop. But we adapted. And the evidence speaks for itself, with 80% fewer single-use carrier bags washed up on UK beaches in the decade since the charge was introduced in Scotland.

Ahead of the launch of the Scottish Government’s single-use cups consultation, Zero Waste Scotland carried out a robust survey of people in Scotland to get their thoughts, and we found a real appetite for intervention.

A mighty 74% of respondents said a charge would encourage them to use a reusable cup more frequently, while 60% said they would buy fewer drinks in single-use cups if a charge were applied.

Nowadays, grabbing your reusable shopping bag is as natural as making sure you have your keys. So, we know we can do the same with our reusable cups. That way, while we’re enjoying a sip of our favourite drink, we can also enjoy the satisfaction of making better, more circular, choices for our planet.

Iain Gulland is Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland

Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk