The KeepCup story

Designing the World's First Barista-Standard Reusable Cup

The bet they made in 2007 was considered audacious at the time: that usability, considered manufacturing and design aesthetics could drive behaviour change — that people would choose to reuse, if the thing they were reusing was genuinely better than what they were throwing away.
The Original KeepCup mimicked the form and function of a disposable cup, only built to last. Barista-standard sizing. A simple splashproof lid. Tactile, colourful, personal. Something you'd actually want on your desk.
The first KeepCups were sold in Melbourne in 2009 — at an independent design market, to coffee lovers who immediately recognised it as the solution to a problem they'd been quietly worrying about. The reuse movement grew from there: consumer-driven, café-endorsed, and unstoppable.

A Movement, Not Just a Product

KeepCup didn't just launch a product. It named a category, and ignited a global conversation about single-use culture.
For a while, carrying a KeepCup felt like being in a secret club — a nod between strangers that said I'm thinking about this too. That quiet movement became mainstream. And with mainstream adoption came greater responsibility.
Today, KeepCup is used in more than 75 countries. Every day, millions of reusers divert disposable cups from landfill. Their actions inspire others. The ripple effect of one small, considered object turns out to be extraordinary.

Reuse Expanded: From Cup to Collection

The original insight — that pleasure drives reuse — has guided everything we've built since.
From the KeepCup Original in BPA-free plastic, to the taste-pure Brew Glass, the insulated Thermal and leakproof Commuter, to the natural warmth of the Brew Cork band and the stackable outdoor joy of the Camp Mug: every product in the range is designed to be the best version of itself, so that reaching for it becomes automatic.
And for cold drinks and iced coffee, we built the KeepCup Cold Cup range — designed specifically for the way cold coffee is drunk, not just adapted from a hot cup. Choose from the clear Cold Cup in BPA-free plastic, the double-wall Longplay Glass, the insulated Cold Thermal with press-fit lid, the Cold Commuter with screw-fit lid, or the tactile Cold Brew Cork — each one purpose-built to keep your cold drink cold, and your iced coffee exactly as it should be.

Now we're bringing that same philosophy to two new categories:

The KeepCup Go Bowl — reusable eating, with the same considered design and material quality that redefined the coffee cup. Because food packaging is the next frontier.
The KeepCup Water Bottle — launching 14 April 2026. The team that invented the world's first barista-standard reusable cup turns its attention to hydration. Built to the same standard. Designed to the same philosophy. Worth the wait.

Our Commitments

We believe sustainability has to be honest to mean anything. We are a certified B Corporation. We manufacture and assemble locally, using recycled and recovered materials where possible. Our packaging takes a lightweight cardboard-first approach — because the thinking has to extend beyond the product itself. We publish our lifecycle assessments — the numbers, not just the narrative. We sell spare parts, because replacing a lid shouldn't mean replacing a cup. We give 1% of revenue to not-for-profits protecting the environment and natural world. And since 2009, over one billion disposable cups have been diverted from landfill.

You Are a Changemaker

People buy KeepCup because they love the way it looks and feels. They keep using it because it becomes a habit, and for many, it becomes the beginning of a longer journey toward more intentional living.

The things you carry, the choices you make, the habits you build, they chart a course. Not just for you.

KeepCup. Make it yours.

Founded in Melbourne, 2009. Used in 75+ countries. Still independently owned. Shop the range →

As a society we’re at a critical juncture, sliding over the precipice.  We’re in a climate emergency, on track to 4–6 °C temperature rise when we need to limit warming to 1.5°C.  

In the wake of Covid-19 the world is likely to reduce emissions by 5% in 2020, but this only underscores the scale of the problem - at least 45% reduction in annual emissions is required to stay below 1.5°C. 

Let’s debunk two myths.

This basic misunderstanding of food safety has again gained traction during Covid-19, despite medical professionals the world over coming out in support of reuse. When KeepCup first launched, this misunderstanding of food safety was such a barrier to reuse that we got a letter of legal advice to share with cafes confirming that reusables are supported by the health and safety regulations and a letter from then Victorian Premier John Brumby, endorsing KeepCup and the positive impacts of reuse on our health and the environment. 

This myth is perpetuated by Big Plastic and the large corporates responsible for much of the world’s single-use packaging waste, who claim to “just be giving customers what they want.” In ten years, the activism of individuals and organisations has demonstrated that convenience at the cost of the planet is not actually what people want - we want better choices.