At the launch of the campaign, the three Aran Islands entered the peak of their tourist season, with visitor numbers ranging from hundreds, up to even one thousand holiday makers arriving on the islands shores daily by ferry and by plane via Doolin (Co. Clare), Ros A Mhíl (Co. Galway), Galway City & Inverin (Co. Galway). Although tourism generates much of the island’s revenue and generates employment locally, the volume of visitors can have negative effects. There are inadequate bins around the islands and the waste management systems on the islands are challenged by the level of waste produced each day, particularly from the food and beverage industries.

Sadly, the result is often that single-use coffee cups and rubbish are disposed of unsustainably and are regularly found scattered across land and in the sea which is hugely damaging for the Aran islands natural habitats, wildlife and marine life.

With the Keep Cup Campaign, the Aran Islands Energy Co-op & local businesses and take a simple step toward protecting our environment, marine life with a small financial incentive, helping people’s pockets! By brining their own cup, customers receive a discount on a takeaway tea/coffee with participating businesses, rewarding them for making an environmentally friendly choice. By choosing
reusable utensils—like our own cup—we help reduce this impact and support a cleaner, greener future. Together, we can make a lasting difference—one cup at a time.

The campaign has been launched on Instagram and Facebook in collaboration with the participating businesses, in local WhatsApp groups, on the CFOAT website and is also being advertised in house at each café, restaurant & hotel on board!

Inis Mór: The Hill Café, Aran Island’s Knitwear Café, Man of Aran Café, Minnie’s Café, Teach Nan Phaidi, Blaithín, The Seal Colony Café, Aran Island’s Seafood (Killeany Shop), Aran Islands Hotel, Tigh Joe Mac.
Inis Meáin: Caife Synge Coffee Van .
Inis Óirr: Teach an Tae, Café Úna.

• The Aran Islands are famous for being self-sufficient. They are very aware of how every community needs to take control of its own sustainability
• Complicated issues, even like running a large scale waste strategy, can be managed by community organisations
• Good governance is key – the co-op priciples are excellent at supporting this
• Build strong alliances: the support of the county council, the regional stakeholders (Údarás), and the government are needed, so build up connections. 

• SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords: Community-Driven, Municipal, Waste.