New technology first scaled up! Starbucks launches home compostable hot drink cup in Europe
Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has partnered with Transcend Packaging, Qwarzo® and Metsä Board to launch new home compostable hot drink cups and lids that are also widely recyclable.
The cups officially launched in Europe on May 6, with a phased rollout starting in ten European countries including Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal and Hungary, with availability in the UK and Ireland later this year.
The new cup is the result of a pan-European collaboration. Designed and produced in Wales using technology developed in Italy.
The new patented Qwarzo® coating on the inside of the cup and the outside of the lid is a silica-based coating that provides a highly heat-resistant, water-resistant barrier.
Silica is a mineral used globally in a variety of basic foods, and is more commonly seen as an anti-caking agent in everyday household products such as flour, protein powder and seasonings. Silica has been approved by multiple regulatory agencies since the 1960s and is widely considered a food-safe substance.
The new pulp fiber lid is designed to maintain its shape and strength even when exposed to hot liquids.
Duncan Moir, President of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "Our thermal cup solution is the first large-scale application of this emerging technology to coffee cups. The new Starbucks thermal cup in Europe provides a widely recyclable and home compostable alternative for customers who do not have a reusable cup. I am extremely proud of the team who developed this innovative solution and I am very excited to see European customers holding this cup while enjoying their coffee. We will continue to learn from this rollout and are committed to launching more sustainable innovations to meet the evolving needs of the global market."
