Lavazza Professional launches Klix Eco Cup, recyclable with normal paper waste
Packaging Solutions
With a leap forward in the reduction of plastic waste and of the number of cups sent to landfill, Lavazza Professional is introducing the new Klix Eco Cup, a breakthrough in in-cup vending, biodegradable and recyclable with normal paper waste.
A truly sustainable vending solution for the workplace, the new Klix Eco Cup will be available in Klix vending machines from February 2020, serving a wide range of hot drinks brands, with many more to come throughout the year.
Ashley Weller, general manager Lavazza Professional UK, explained: ‘Calls for a reduction in single use plastic for food and drink containers increased our commitment to offering our customers and consumers a revolutionary solution to meet their needs: Klix Eco Cup marks another step forward in our mission to deliver the most sustainable drinks vending solutions in the world.’
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee stated that in the UK, 2.5 billion coffee cups are used and thrown away each year, but less than one in 400 – just 0.25% – are recycled. Not surprisingly, an enormous number of cups – around 500,000 – are littered every day.
Most consumers are unaware that standard paper cups are difficult to recycle and are usually sent to landfill due to a Polyethylene (PE) lining that very few recycling facilities across Europe can process. Due to a special patented water based dispersion barrier board by Kotkamills, the Klix Eco Cup can be recycled with normal paper waste, just like office paper.
Designed for businesses who are looking for an alternative to plastic cups, the cups are manufactured using paper sourced from sustainably managed forests, accredited by PEFC and can be recycled into paper waste up to seven times, guaranteeing low environmental impact.
Indeed, a lifecycle assessment run by the external consultancy WSP states that using the new cup reduces environmental impacts by almost two-thirds compared to a standard paper cup.
Ashley continued, ‘One of the greatest challenges was developing a cup that meets our high expectations for quality and recyclability whilst ensuring consumers enjoy a great taste experience.’
Ashley added, ‘We have always been passionate about making a positive difference that goes far beyond our own business and supports our customers on their own individual sustainability journeys. We are therefore pioneering a breakthrough sustainable solution in the vending world. Our commitment is clear but we hope that other businesses will also increasingly play an active role, because strength is in numbers. We encourage the big players in the market to explore similar solutions in order to boost the rate of recycling for this type of cup.’
The new Klix Eco Cup will be available from February 2020 in the Klix Momentum and Outlook machines starting with the most popular drinks, with a progressive roll out plan across 2020 which will dramatically reduce use of plastic by 2021.
