Simply Cups, a paper cup product stewardship program, aims to enable consumers to save from landfill all types of paper cups, including coffee, take-away soft drinks, and ice cream cups through its establishment of over 1500 collection points across Australia. The program focuses on developing and improving paper cup solutions, recycling, government advocacy, and education.
With 1.8 billion hot drinks cups used annually in Australia, as reported by the Australian Plastics Flows and Fates Study 2019-2020, there is a clear demand for a paper cup recycling solution, especially where bans and reusable cups are not feasible. To address this, Simply Cups is investing in innovation, allowing it to develop scalable solutions aligned with community needs.
“In our infancy, one of our first innovations was reusable cups made from six disposable cups, a recycling solution we were really proud of, but now, we have roads using hundreds of thousands of paper cups,” says Rob Pascoe, managing director, Closed Loop, which runs the Simply Cups program.
“We are already recycling millions of cups every year, and as more and more paper cups are used, our local solutions will be capable of managing this exponential increase,” Pascoe adds.
Collaboration with businesses like Gully Concrete showcase innovative outcomes. This partnership has led to lightweight concrete utility slabs incorporating recycled cups, offering a sustainable alternative to utility concrete options.
“We worked closely with Simply Cups and were able to develop a better and more sustainable product that we are really happy with,” said Luke Folino, director, Gully Concrete, brand owner of EnviroLite.
Closed Loop’s ongoing efforts include processing cups through washing, drying, and converting them into flakes or pellets, allowing for versatile recycling applications. For instance, in developing PAK-PAVE Roads, partners addressed challenges by densifying cup flakes into pellets, ensuring practical use in road construction.
Simply Cups collaborated with State Asphalts NSW and the University of NSW, supported by the Commonwealth’s Cooperative Research Centres Program Grant, to develop innovative solutions. This partnership ensures the adoption and validation of these innovations, with roads sanctioned by NSW EPA and Transport NSW, and potential for use in other states.
“As we continue to partner with equally passionate businesses, our technologies become more advanced, which is truly exciting,” said Brendan Lee, circular economy manager, Closed Loop.
The introduction of the Drop Off Only ARL (the labelling system endorsed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation) holds promise for diverting millions of paper cups from landfills, reinforcing Simply Cups’ commitment to sustainable waste management. With continued support from businesses and consumers, the program aims to increase paper cup recycling and contribute to a circular economy while reducing environmental impact.
This article was first published in the May-June 2024 print issue of PKN Packaging News, p26.
