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Since 2009 the team behind Repurpose Compostables has been selling compostable food service products to businesses and consumers. But they may have just had a major breakthrough. As we know, companies such as Starbucks have been researching ways to green their coffee cups for quite some time now. Well perhaps Starbucks should take some notes while reading this story.
This week Repurpose Compostables announced the debut of their One Cup which, according to the press release, “requires no sleeve, uses 65% less CO2 than a traditional cup to produce, and can be composted in 90 days.” And to take it one step further, this 100% certified compostable cup is also made with FSC-certified paper.
Traditional insulated cups are made by adding additional layers of paper, but the Repurpose One Cup does the same with a patented insulation material, which is actually on a single wall cup. Made with an Ingeo resin-based lining, this eliminates the need for those wasteful sleeves or even double cupping, as we’ve seen many people in coffee shops ask for. Seriously!
So a one product solution that’s made from renewable resources and it’s compostable? That’s right. And apparently affordable, too. But don’t go throwing this product into your backyard. While the One Cup can’t compost in your own compost pile it can however be composted in an appropriate industrial composting facility.
The One Cup is designed to keep hot beverages warmer for longer and prevents heat from escaping. The lid for the top is compostable as well. Other products that Repurpose makes include: Cold Cups & Lids, Straws, Taster Cups, Sushi Containers, and utensils.
Kara is 3p's writer from New England. In her Newport, RI community, Kara is the organizer of Green Drinks Newport, is a member of Newport's Energy & Environment Commission, is a volunteer for the Neighborhood Energy Challenge, Norman Bird Sanctuary, and has also volunteered as a panelist for Rhode Island Farmways, speaking to farmers from around the state about how they can better market and promote their businesses. Beyond the moat that surrounds her island home, Kara has backpacked Mt. Washington in New Hampshire too many times to count and she hopes her next adventure will be to ski the gnarly Tuckerman's Ravine. Kara is a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, a graduate of the Colorado Outward Bound School and in real life, she is a public relations director who'd just plain like to see the world a greener place. Kara has been writing for TreeHugger.com since January 2005 and began writing for 3p in January 2010.
