Raising a Cup to Sustainability: Huskee’s Collaboration with the European Youth Parliament UK

What does a fiercely competitive quiz, contemporary European political issues, 120 young people and stylish reusable cups all have in common? They all came together at this year’s European Youth Parliament (EYPUK) Autumn National Session, themed around sustainability. This year’s theme, Soaring Together: Progressing Towards a Sustainable Future, set the tone for the entire session. This was more than just a catchy title, it shaped every aspect of the event. Naturally, we reached out to Huskee, makers of beautifully sustainable reusable cups. We were delighted when they agreed to sponsor the event by donating 12 of their 8oz cups which we used as prizes for the most quiz-savvy participants at our European Quiz Night.

As a dedicated Huskee cup enthusiast, reaching out to them was an obvious choice. Their commitment to reducing single-use plastics through their sleek, reusable cups aligned perfectly with our vision for the event. Their donation helped keep our event in line with its sustainable ethos, and let’s be honest – the promise of winning a Huskee cup brought out some fierce competition during the quiz, from pupils and teachers alike!

What is EYPUK?
For those of you unfamiliar with the work of EYPUK, we are a non-partisan, UK registered education charity that works with young people aged 16-25 to develop their critical thinking, academic and interpersonal skills. We do this through our Regional Debating Forum and our two annual flagships events – our National Sessions. These National Sessions are held in Liverpool and are a five-day affair bringing together over 175 participants from all over Europe, 120 of whom are 16-18 year-olds selected from Regional Forums across the country.

During our National Sessions, our participants take on the role of European policy and decision makers by writing and debating resolutions in the same style and procedure as the European Parliament. Our sessions are more than just an exercise in debate; they are an opportunity for young people to engage with pressing global issues that impact them. This year, the focus was on sustainability, with committees discussing topics such as efficient rail travel across Europe (TRAN – Committee on Transport and Tourism) and sustainable agricultural practices (AGRI – Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development).
Participants spend the first two days of the conference discussing and researching their chosen topic, facilitated by other young people from across Europe, before spending the final two days debating all the resolutions created. This process, modelled on the workings of the European Parliament, encourages cooperation, consensus building and compromise – essential lifelong skills!

Practising What We Preach: Sustainability in Action 
Our commitment to sustainability extended well beyond the debates. We actively encouraged all participants to bring reusable coffee cups, like a Huskee cup, and water bottles, thereby eliminating the need for single-use plastic cups and mugs. We also made sure that there was plenty of oat milk available during the numerous coffee breaks, to encourage participants to make the sustainable switch!
But it wasn’t all serious discussions and debates. In the evenings, participants took part in our Cultural Programme, designed to highlight and celebrate the cultural diversity of Europe. A particular highlight was the European General Knowledge quiz. You may think you know a lot about Europe, but when the competition involves guessing countries based on passport pages, things get interesting! Especially when coupled with the chance to win a coveted Huskee cup!

A Heartfelt Thanks to Huskee 
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Huskee for their generous donation. Their reusable cups were not just an eco-friendly prize; they were emblematic of the values we aim to uphold at EYPUK events – innovation, sustainability and the hope of a greener and brighter future. It is safe to say that the cups were highly sought after and highly appreciated by those lucky enough to win one!
Huskee’s contribution helped us to not only create an event that discussed and explored the challenges of sustainability, but also encouraged participants to adopt practical solutions in their own lives. We are immensely grateful for their support and look forward to continuing this partnership as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Here’s to building a better future, one Huskee cup at a time!