It’s Roll Up the Rim time at Tim’s.
Lots of prizes, including donuts coffee and cars will be passed out to Canadians over the next number of weeks. Canadians who will be more than willing to leave their recyclable mugs at home to boost the chances of swigging back a free double double.
Something about this smells funny in 2008.
Environmentalism isn’t a religion, so much as a way of life for many Canadians now. We bring reusable bags to the grocery store. We have 20 different compartments for recyclables with our trash. We bring our own coffee mugs to the coffee stand.
Sustainability is something not only preached by the likes of David Suzuki, but by governments. Just last week, BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor wore green shoes to announce the BC Budget that featured a green theme throughout.
So why, in 2008, is Tim Horton’s going back to the tried and true promotion of “buy as many unrecyclable cups as you can to try and win a donut.”
Oh, you didnt know the cups weren’t recyclable? They use a lining on the cup making them unrecyclable, and during an increased consumption contest like this, Canadians go crazy.
Tim Hortons cups have no recycled content…In the meantime, the chain might print “Don’t litter” messages on its cups, but even Tim Hortons’ peeps admit that “many people, unfortunately, do not pay attention to these messages.”
[source]
Don’t think crossing the street will make a difference, Starbucks‘ cups aren’t much better, about 10% recycled material.
Questioning of this promotion isn’t new, people have been openly asking why Tim’s does it since 2005.
“I don’t think it’s socially responsible to have a promotion which creates massive waste,” said Ronald Colman, executive director of GPI Atlantic, a non-profit group that researches environmental and quality of life issues. In Nova Scotia, Mr. Colman said, Tim Hortons packaging accounted for 22% of all identifiable litter.[source]
According to a CBC story from 2005, the company defends itself, by encouraging people not to litter. But they are hearing the plea for recyclables, and have started pilot recycling projects in the Maritimes.
The Tim Hortons coffee cup is recyclable where facilities exist, such as in Moncton, New Brunswick and Windsor, Ontario. The biggest challenge is that recycling capabilities, options and requirements vary significantly between municipalities. In Owen Sound, Ontario, in November 2007, Tim Hortons proudly introduced four-stream recycling stations so that customers can recycle coffee cups and polystyrene lids on site, along with cans, bottles and other recyclable materials. Tim Hortons is now working to try to replicate this innovative program across Ontario, and in other areas of Canada, however support is needed from local waste management facilities. [source]
Still, there’s still got to be a better way to get you to grab your double double of joe on the go with the hope of scoring a free donut than by rolling up unrecyclable rims. A simple scratch card, or pull tab, while not as fun to rrrrroll, would serve the same sales driven purpose as these cups, and would ease the pressures they place on landfills.
Many contests have the old “no purchase necessary” tag at the end. So if you want to play along, with your home mug, write them a note and .. get this .. they’ll send you a cup.
In Canada, obtain a FREE Tim Hortons contest cup by writing to: Tim Hortons Contest Cup, P.O. Box 9899, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4P8. [source]
What’s the point?
Let’s see if you can rrrresist the urrrrge to rrrrrroll for the next little while. For the sake of the planet.
Got a problem with Tim’s doing this promo, again? Let ‘em know:
Langley, BC V4W 3S8
Tel: (604) 857-5430
Fax: (604) 857-5436
Customer Service toll-free:
1-877-839-2850
The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
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I was just thinking that when I stood in line with my travel mug on Monday…and thought hey I’m getting ripped off because I’m trying to be envirmentally friendly. Thanks for the address I’ll be sure to let them know that they shouldn’t be contributing to our waste, but inspiring others to buy a travel mug.
Hey, noticed your comment on my blog. And while I agree with you in part - I don’t think stopping the contest is the answer!
[...] blog post goes into great detail: http://www.buzzbishop.com/blog/2008/02/25/rrroll-up-the-un-recyclable-rim/, Tim Hortons own FAQ also concedes the fact, but tries to put a positive spin on it, stating that [...]
[...] few months back, when Tim Horton’s was rrrolling up the rrrim, I lamented that contests like this, while fun, do nothing but encourage people to buy disposable [...]
Government should mandate that all fast food containers need to be universally recyclable or the company needs to recycle the containers themselves. Problem solved.
In Surrey we recently switched to Single Stream recycling and it’s reduced my weekly recycling time by about 90%. It’s wonderful!
I agree. Tim Horton’s doesn’t have to stop contesting but there could be a better way to do the awarding. I know that the brand managers and agency will fight it tooth and nail with the argument that the brand equity in the “Roll up the Rim to Win” slogan is just too much to loose. They will argue that that building up similar brand awareness will take too long and cost too much and will hit the bottom line. In these economic tough times this argument will override long term ecological common sense more often.
It’s unfortunate to see but when small communities across BC can’t even get their blue bins picked up because of the economy I think our complaints might be met with little more than PR lip service. I will still send off a not though.
Thanks Buzz for the important article.
GRrrreat post, Buzz! I’d like to see Timmies come up with a sticker or something instead, but I get that the Roll up the rim slogan is catchy - they should make the jump to recycled content.
I know they don’t want to lose their catchy marketing phrase…but I think enough people know about the contest that it won’t hurt them any if they change it. “Rooolllll in to Win! Guess the earth loses in this contest again.
[...] 2009 February 25 tags: Tim Horton’s by Miriam Jones When you roll up your rim, roll responsibly. Or roll [...]
I always thought that small scratch cards would be an improvement.
[...] Roll Up The Rim to Win season at Timmy’s. A time when millions of Canadians will be enticed to stop in for some [...]
I agree, and to boot how many cups you buy only to get please play again. What’s the use you might get a donut or a coffee yippee kiya….big whoop, never mind what these cups do to the environment.
how about instead of cups you use a pin number on a receipt or a scan instant win cards…..