Four Espresso owners Steve and Alicia Payne are firm believers in the eco-friendly approach.

"If every cafe makes little changes, it would equate to a big change," Mrs Payne said.

And making a change isn't difficult.

"Everyone thinks it's hard work or more money but it's not," Mr Payne added.

"It's the complete opposite."

Four Espresso supports the swap and go coffee cup scheme Green Caffeen.

The scheme provides reusable cups to participating businesses.

Scheme members can take the cup away with them and hand it in when they buy another coffee in a clean scheme cup.

Four Espresso has reduced its plastic wrap use, adopted paper straws and biodegradable takeaway food packaging and turns to reusable containers for food preparation.

There is a trend towards more customers bringing in reusable coffee cups.

Mr Payne said Plastic Free July was a step in the right direction.

"It's good to make people more aware as long as they keep those theories going for 12 months of the year," he said.

The Plastic Free July challenge empowers people to choose to refuse single-use plastics in their lives.

LV's on Clarence front of house manager Moya Burke urges all cafes to be environmentally conscious.

She said small steps such as not using plastic straws would help.

"I think it's really important to be publicly seen to be making a difference," Ms Burke said.

"So many cafes are getting on board, it's amazing."

LV's on Clarence has ditched plastic straws in favour of the metal and paper varieties.

The business also uses biodegradable takeaway packaging, supports local producers and promoted the Seaside Scavenge with information in the cafe.

Ms Burke said Plastic Free July was an amazing movement.

"It really makes people realise how much we do rely on plastic," she said.

Ms Burke said people didn't have to depend on single-use plastics as there were just so many alternatives.

She said lots of people were changing to reusable coffee cups.

"I think there is lots of information out there about how bad all the takeaway single-use cups are," Ms Burke said.

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