Sydney-based sustainable drinkware company Huskee has officially launched its tech-enabled reusable cup program, Borrow by Huskee, at International Towers Barangaroo in Sydney, marking a key milestone for circular economy innovation in Australia’s café sector.
The turnkey reuse system allows customers to borrow a Huskee cup when ordering coffee at participating cafés and venues, mitigating the need to bring their own. Enabled by GS1 Next Gen barcodes, the initiative is designed to reduce single-use cup waste and improve the convenience of sustainable choices.
Now live at cafés throughout Barangaroo and other Sydney locations, the system lets customers borrow a cup, enjoy their drink, and return the cup within 14 days to any participating café or to one of the precinct’s dedicated Smart Bin collection points.
“This launch is a huge moment for reuse in Australia,” said Huskee co-founder Saxon Wright. “Borrow by Huskee removes friction for consumers and businesses alike. It’s simple, accessible, and backed by powerful tech that closes the loop in a truly smart way.”
At the core of the program is the Borrow App, which manages borrowing and returns using unique QR codes on each cup, implemented to global GS1 standards. The codes enable real-time tracking, return verification and usage insights, while supporting interoperability and transparency across the reuse system.
Maria Palazzolo, CEO of GS1 Australia, said, “We’re proud to be supporting this circular innovation through the use of Next Gen GS1 barcodes and related standards that enhance trust, transparency, and efficiency.”
The Borrow cup is available in two sizes (8oz and 12oz), made from 100 per cent polypropylene – a durable and fully recyclable material that integrates with Huskee’s closed-loop HuskeeLoop program. Cups that reach end-of-life are collected and transformed into new products.
Returned cups are processed at Huskee’s WashHub facility in St Peters, where they are professionally washed, sanitised, and redeployed back into circulation across Sydney’s café network.
“Barangaroo is the perfect setting for this next evolution of reuse,” Wright said. “This is just the start. We hope this launch sparks conversations with cafés and venues across the country, with the goal to roll out reuse solutions to thousands of businesses over the next 12 months.”
Borrow by Huskee is now live, with the company actively inviting new venues to join the system.
