4 ACES


Finding the right cup for eco- conscious consumers


Up to 5 billion disposable cups are used in the UK each year.1


Only around 1 in 25 are recycled.2 Consumers


want change. Serving up the right cup is a simple way to make huge strides towards customer satisfaction AND a sustainable future.


mills that accept recyclable cups. When recycled the fibre from the cups can be used again for paper products such as boxes up to seven times over! Ultimately, either option is better than chucking your packaging


F


act: Sustainability is more important to almost two thirds of UK consumers than it was two years ago.3


Most have already taken some individual action in their daily lives to live more


sustainably, such as cutting energy use, but global consumers say that cost, access, and a lack of clarity stop them from adopting the more sustainable lifestyles they desire. When it comes to cups, many households own at least one


reusable option, but recent UK consumer studies have shown that a huge proportion admit to leaving these at home on multiple occasions.4


Practicality and convenience remain key considerations in even the most eco-conscious consumers’ daily lives. It’s clear that outlets serving drinks-to-go need to align their values with that of their customers, in other words, catering to convenience whilst giving access to more sustainable options. CUPkind – a new eco-conscious cup being brought to the market by


leading food and drink packaging supplier, 4 ACES – uses an innovative aqueous barrier coating to create a full range of cups that are plastic- free, and fully certified recyclable and compostable. The creators believe that one small switch by foodservice providers and retailers could make huge strides in meeting customer demands for change. 4 ACES Sales Director, David Blake, says: “There is a middle ground between exclusive use of reusable cups and filling our oceans with single-use paper and plastic cup pollution. With CUPkind, we believe we’ve found a solution that provides consumers with the sustainability credentials they are wanting to see, whilst meeting the convenience of a disposable single-use cup that many lifestyles require.” Available for hot and cold drinks in a variety of styles and sizes, CUPkind’s new range of leak-proof cups are certified plastic-free, recyclable and suitable for industrial and at-home composting. Recycling is better for the environment, and there are 4 UK paper


18 | vendinginternational-online.com


into general waste and having it carted off to landfill, but when it comes to disposal, think recycling first and composting as your planet-friendly plan B! That’s the CUPkind way. Blake continues: “Consumers are tired of greenwashing and big environmental claims by companies that are not authentic. In switching from plastic-lined disposable cups to a fully recyclable and compostable solution like CUPkind, foodservice and retail providers are actively demonstrating a desire to look beyond the bottom line and do things differently. CUPkind provides guidance on the cup afterlife, ensuring businesses see the cup through full circle, and even puts a nifty QR code on every cup with clear instructions for consumers on how to best dispose of their cup whether they happen to be at work, out and about or in their own home. Consumers want to carry on living the lives they enjoy. Small swaps like this allow them to do just that while also feeling like they’re working towards a more sustainable future in partnership with the businesses they know and trust. CUPkind is kicking off the


KIND Revolution that goes way beyond the cup, and we’re hoping businesses, consumers and government policymakers alike will join us in creating a sustainable, plastic-free future.”


*CUPkind cups are made from FSC®-certified, responsibly sourced virgin paperboard, which is certified plastic-free, certified recyclable, and certified as suitable for home and industrial composting.


1


https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/ cmenvaud/657/657.pdf


2 FAQs | PCRRG - Paper Cup Recovery and Recycling Group 3


The Changing Climate of Sustainability“, Nielsen IQ, referenced in Sustainability Is More Important To 61% Of UK Consumers Than It Was Two Years Ago (retailtimes.co.uk), January 2023


4


www.zenger.news/2022/07/15/paper-cup-craze-astounding- animation-depicts-3-2-billion-disposable-cups-used-in-the-uk/


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