This website uses cookies to improve your experience navigating our site. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OK, I understand

Homes Art Architecture Creative People Family Podcast Films News On the Market

All Stories

Homes
Gardens
Art
Architecture
Creative People
Food
Shopping
Travel
Victorian Coastal Renovated Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Homes Country Tiny
Vegetable Garden Suburban Garden Public Garden Small Garden Country Garden
Indigenous Art
Graphic Design Floristry Illustration Jewellery Indigenous Art Textiles Interior Design Craft Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Furniture Art Styling Architecture Lighting Photography Ceramics
Gluten Free Lunch Dinner Snack Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets
Lighting Furniture TDF Shop Kids Art Rugs Jewellery Craft Tableware Accessories Plants + Flowers Gifts Ceramics Soft Furnishings

About

About Contributors Contact Advertising Frequently Asked Questions

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

ALL
Apartment
Architectural
Coastal
Country
Family Homes
Mid Century
Minimalist
Renovated
Tiny
Victorian

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

ALL
Indigenous Art

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

ALL

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

ALL
Studio Visit
Extraordinary Routines
Dream Job
Small Business
Family
Regional
-
Architecture
Art
Ceramics
Craft
Floristry
Furniture
Graphic Design
Illustration
Indigenous Art
Industrial Design
Interior Design
Jewellery
Lighting
Photography
Quoted
Styling
Textiles
Woodwork

Family

How Australia’s most inspiring creatives balance career and family. The juggle is real!

ALL

Podcast

ALL

Films

ALL

News

ALL

On the Market

ALL

All Stories

Homes
Gardens
Art
Architecture
Creative People
Food
Shopping
Travel
Victorian Coastal Renovated Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Homes Country Tiny
Vegetable Garden Suburban Garden Public Garden Small Garden Country Garden
Indigenous Art
Graphic Design Floristry Illustration Jewellery Indigenous Art Textiles Interior Design Craft Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Furniture Art Styling Architecture Lighting Photography Ceramics
Gluten Free Lunch Dinner Snack Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets
Lighting Furniture TDF Shop Kids Art Rugs Jewellery Craft Tableware Accessories Plants + Flowers Gifts Ceramics Soft Furnishings

About

About Contributors Contact Advertising Frequently Asked Questions

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

ALL
Apartment
Architectural
Coastal
Country
Family Homes
Mid Century
Minimalist
Renovated
Tiny
Victorian

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

ALL
Indigenous Art

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

ALL

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

ALL
Studio Visit
Extraordinary Routines
Dream Job
Small Business
Family
Regional
-
Architecture
Art
Ceramics
Craft
Floristry
Furniture
Graphic Design
Illustration
Indigenous Art
Industrial Design
Interior Design
Jewellery
Lighting
Photography
Quoted
Styling
Textiles
Woodwork

Family

How Australia’s most inspiring creatives balance career and family. The juggle is real!

ALL

Podcast

ALL

Films

ALL

News

ALL

On the Market

ALL
Homes Gardens Art Architecture Creative People Food Family TDF Films Podcast News Shopping Travel On the Market Design Awards
Hi there, like what
you see? Sign up to
our mailing list.
(Receive our top Story Every Weekday)
OR
('Best of the Week' Highlights Every Friday)

TDF Talks With KeepCup Co-Founder Abigail Forsyth

Podcast

KeepCup is the world’s first barista-standard re-usable coffee cup. Over the past 10 years, this Melbourne-based company has driven incredible awareness around the re-use movement, and they’ve saved billions (literally) of disposable cups from ending up in landfill.

Though they have offices and warehouses in London and Los Angeles, KeepCup’s head office is right here in Fitzroy!  I recently stopped by for an inspiring chat with co-founder and managing director Abigail Forsyth. The accomplished lawyer-turned-businesswoman reflected on the incredible growth of her business, and her next big challenge – advocacy and activism!

2nd May, 2019

KeepCup’s Managing Director Abigail Forsyth. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

KeepCup grew from 45 to 90 staff in 2018. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Members of the KeepCup team. Though the business began in 2007, it was another two years before the product hit the market, during which time they invested in hiring external expertise. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

KeepCups in various models and vibrant colourways. Photo – Amelia Stanwix for The Design Files.

Lucy Feagins
Thursday 2nd May 2019

After originally pursuing a career in law, Abigail Forsyth created the first KeepCup with her brother, Jamie, back in 2007. It’s hard to believe it now, but at the time, there was very little awareness around waste, and the problems with disposable packaging. And it certainly wasn’t a common sight to see anyone take a re-usable coffee cup to their local café. How things have changed!

This humble little Australian-designed product has had a profound effect on the world (I don’t get to say that as often as I would like!), so today we delve into the backstory behind it all, and where Abigail has her sights set next!

Oh, and all our podcasts come with pictures. When listening via iTunes / the Apple podcasts app, enjoy viewing relevant photographs and clicking through links while you listen!

 

Lucy Feagins
Thursday 2nd May 2019

Notes + Links

Abigail Forsyth is a judge for the Sustainable Design category of our just-announced TDF Design Awards!

Our Small Business columnist Fiona Killackey spoke to Abigail about the value of investing in external consultants in 2018 – lots of tips and inspiration here.

Find out more about KeepCup and their product range on their website and follow on Instagram @keepcup.

The last thing Abigail purchased online was this, all-natural plastic free replacement for toothpaste! (we’re intrigued!)

This is our 27th TDF Talks podcast, check all the others out here.

This Week

News

Attention: Cult Sydney Sale!

Ready your wallets, Cult Design is hosting a designer warehouse sale from September 12th-15th  in Sydney.
Miriam McGarry

News

The Archibald Arrives At TarraWarra

Australia’s oldest and most prestigious art award comes to Victoria, featuring portraits of 51 subjects.
Miriam McGarry

Architecture

A Coastal Home Designed From The Inside Out

This Barwon Heads property by Lovell Burton is designed to expand and contract with the seasons.
Lucy Feagins

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life Of Jamie Durie, Designer + Media Personality

We talk to a legendary Aussie icon about finding the time to manage his multiple pursuits!
Sally Tabart

News

Explore Hotel Rooms Full Of Contemporary Art At Spring1883

26 contemporary galleries present works throughout The Establishment Hotel for the immersive Spring1883 event in Sydney!
Miriam McGarry

TDF Design Awards

The Emerging Designers In The Running To WIN At The TDF Design Awards

Seven of Australia's most accomplished new designers and emerging design studios, in the running to WIN at TDF Design Awards!
Lucy Feagins

Food

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's Seasonal Flavours: Spring Greens with Ricotta

Our favourite foodie is back with another must-cook dish! Today, the self-taught cook shares her recipe for a simple crowd-pleasing starter....
Julia Busuttil Nishimura
  5 hours ago

Modernist Australia

A Robin Boyd Bushland Block Up For Sale!

A classic home by Australia's most loved modernist architect, the 'Uglow House' in Montmorency is on the market for a steal!
Patricia Callan

Family

Artist Julian Meagher On Creating Through The Parenting Fog

One of our favourite Sydney artists on working through the doubt and exhaustion of parenting, ahead of his exhibition at Sydney Contemporary...
Ashe Davenport

Art

Influential Australian Women Star In National Portrait Prize Shortlist

Nova Peris, Magda Szubankski, Annabel Crabb and other icons grace the paintings in the running for Australia's richest art prize, the 2019 D...
Elle Murrell

Gardens

An Outdoor Oasis In Annandale

A small footprint, big impact outdoor entertaining area in Sydney, with designs by Eco Outdoor.
Amelia Barnes

Interiors

A Swedish Summer Cottage In South Australia

Emma Read and Sarah Hall of My Sister And The Sea create a cosy cottage getaway on the edge of the Innes National Park.
Miriam McGarry
  21 hours ago

Architecture

Heritage Bones Meets Modern Design In This Paddington Terrace

Porebski Architects restore and respectfully modernise an 1890s terrace.
Miriam McGarry
45:07

Creative People

TDF Talks With Life Coach + Author Kemi Nekvapil

Kemi Nekvapil on leadership, women's wellness and how a disempowered childhood led her to coaching and mentoring others.
Lucy Feagins

News

Mercedes Me Gets An Eco Makeover From Joost Bakker

In collaboration with ST. ALi, the Melbourne store is removing all disposable takeaway cups, and celebrating the transition to sustainabilit...
Miriam McGarry

View Comments

More Podcasts

Podcast

TDF Talks @Mercedes me With Joost Bakker

A live podcast of Lucy's candid conversation with the visionary no-waste crusader and designer.
Lucy Feagins
40:47

Podcast

TDF Talks With Travel Photographer Kara Rosenlund

An inspiring chat with the Brisbane-based photographer, author, stylist and businesswoman.
Lucy Feagins
01:01:05

Podcast

TDF Talks With Chef-Turned-Sustainable-Farmer Paul West

A surprisingly hilarious chat with the River Cottage Australia host, covering his atypical career path, and his philosophies on living a mor...
Lucy Feagins

The Design Files original content and photos are copyright protected. Please email us before re-posting our content elsewhere. Feel free to share our images on Pinterest using the credit ‘via thedesignfiles.net’. Thank you!

About Advertising Contributors Contact Archive FAQ
Code by PDA