Starbucks has made a significant advancement in its environmental efforts with the introduction of a new, sustainable hot cup and lid in Europe. After extensive research and development, the company has replaced the plastic lining of its hot cups with a mineral-based coating. Additionally, the plastic lids have been swapped out for fiber alternatives coated with the same mineral material.
The new cups maintain the classic Starbucks design but are now certified as home-compostable and widely recyclable. This innovation allows Starbucks to offer the same high-quality experience for customers, without causing extra work for store partners (employees).
A major challenge with traditional plastic-lined coffee cups is their difficulty in being recycled. The plastic lining often requires separation from the paper cup, a process not supported by many mainstream recycling facilities. These facilities typically lack the technology to handle this separation and often need special recycling programs for coffee cups. In contrast, Starbucks’ new cups and lids can be recycled in standard recycling bins or composted at home, leaving behind no harmful residue.
This new solution is the result of a pan-European collaboration. The cups are made from traceable wood fiber sourced from Northern European forests. The mineral-based coating was developed in Brescia, Italy, while the cups are produced at Transcend Packaging’s factory in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Wales.
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